I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
With no referendum in 2016 we might well be living under a Tory-Ukip coalition right now.
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
In the end, both were part of a world that was rapidly passing. By 2015 it was clear that there was no possibility that the world that existed prior to 2007 could be reconstructed.
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
With no referendum in 2016 we might well be living under a Tory-Ukip coalition right now.
I think with a different Labour leader in 2016, Remain would have won. Corbyn was pathetic in the campaign, and any of the alternatives would have been better.
2017 was the biggest increase in vote for Labour since WW2
2019 was about Labour's stupid 2nd referendum policy courtesy of SKS.
2023/4 is going to be a massive disappointment for you CHB.
It was Ed Miliband in 2015 (not as left wing as Corbyn) who wrecked Labour. He lost Scotland, and took enough votes off the LDs in the LD/Con marginals to give the Cons their majority.
I don't think Miliband is really responsible for Scotland. The SNP passed Labour back in 2006 (polling). 2010 was the anomaly, with Labour clinging to its vote in the FPTP system. The other Scotland-wide votes, in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2021 all saw the SNP finish with the most votes.
Yes, I think it was having Brown as PM that meant Labour held Scotland in 2010.
It was SLAB campaigning with the Tories in 2014 that put a bucket full of nails in their coffin.
I honestly think 2014 is overplayed. It's an easy story to reach for, but the rot was set in before then. Any understanding of what went wrong for Labour in Scotland needs to take 2011 into account. So yes, you're right, nails in the coffin. But why was Labour in the coffin in the first place?
The Better Together campaign was (from a party political point of view) an enormous and total disaster for Scottish Labour. They actively campaigned against about 40% of their voting base and repeatedly insulted them and called the Nazis.
Had Scotland been lost then UK Labour would have hardly ever been able to win a general election again.
No surprise they campaigned hard against the equally aggressive Scottish Nationalists and for the Union in the 2014 referendum. Not that at a UK level SLab's future really matters anyway, whether an MP is Labour or SNP they will still vote to make the Labour leader PM.
Sturgeon's domestic policies are also little different to what Labour FMs pursued at Holyrood and of course the UK government gets the final say on the union anyway
Time to tap into the PB Brains Trust. I probably have my first ever trip to Baku coming up in November - 2 weeks. Anything on the recommended activity/places to visit must do list?
Baku is brilliant
Check out the Zoroastrian fire-shrines, the burning hill, the amazing Soviet oil industry dereliction. Go drinking, it has a fab atmos. The food is intriguing and the Iran-Slav mixed race women often stunning
The markets were also great when I was there, but this is well over a decade ago, and oil money has changed it rapidly, I have been told
With two weeks you have the chance to explore. Azerbaijan is tremendously weird. The higher you get into the hills and the countryside, the better and stranger it is. Check the mad Jewish towns surviving from the 5th century BC. Entire villages in the Caucasus where, suddenly, everyone is ginger
Superb place. Have fun
Thanks, Leon. I intend to try. My first trip since Dec 2019. Need to shake off that cabin fever.
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
With no referendum in 2016 we might well be living under a Tory-Ukip coalition right now.
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
With no referendum in 2016 we might well be living under a Tory-Ukip coalition right now.
I think with a different Labour leader in 2016, Remain would have won. Corbyn was pathetic in the campaign, and any of the alternatives would have been better.
I thought this alternative history game was if David took over in 2010 not Ed?
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
With no referendum in 2016 we might well be living under a Tory-Ukip coalition right now.
We are.
Chortle. Yes I suppose so.
I just remembered Philip Hammond. Had forgotten about him. You see, things have been worse!
On topic, if Trump wants the nomination, he will get it and it is increasingly clear he does. Also, he is playing a smart game by keeping relatively quiet. That might not be a popular idea on here given the consensus that Trump is a stupid buffoon but he is a lot smarter than many give him credit for.
There was also a good piece by Conrad Black today, which won’t please many on here but the link is below. With regards to his comments on the 2020 election, they will make many here choke but, quite frankly, that’s not important - this is what the GOP is thinking about what happened in November:
Final point. I’m noticing a worrying trend on here that, if Trump does run again in 2024, the only way he will win is by fraud / illegitimate means ie his election will be illegitimate. Ironically, there is a fair bit of overlap between those who are the strongest in pushing this view and those who are most shrill about saying how the GOP’s conduct remains the biggest threat to American democracy. It doesn’t seem to occur to many on here that Trump may win because people will be sick of Biden’s incompetence but it is worrying that we are starting to see the building blocks being out in place to claim any Trump 2024 win is, by default, illegitimate.
"I’m noticing a worrying trend on here that, if Trump does run again in 2024, the only way he will win is by fraud / illegitimate means"
Really?
Maybe I've missed it, but I haven't seen a single comment along those lines.
Presumably you have plenty of examples.
I think you have just had a few examples post your question with one poster admirably admitting his comments could be interpreted as such. And that Trump is a cheat. Plus another one who said that Republican cheating had been going on for years. It’s clear there will be a good solid group - as post-2016 - who would take the view that Trump could not have won legitimately and therefore must have cheated
Anyone who plays golf knows that Trump is a cheat.
Yes, and cheating at golf is a massive red flag. Hence the infamous scene from Goldfinger.
(Filmed at Stoke Poges GC - they are quite proud of it there)
Trump does bear a resemblance.
Stoke Poges was the site of the most perfectly timed, funniest double entendres in my entire life. There was a gong at the entrance to one of the Corporate offices there, and as we ambled out one evening myself and a colleague were spotting a middle aged receptionist bending over picking something up, whilst a second colleague was eying the gong
And the second colleague then, anticipating our return the next day, uttered, in childlike innocence, the line " I wouldn't mind banging that in the morning."
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
With no referendum in 2016 we might well be living under a Tory-Ukip coalition right now.
I think with a different Labour leader in 2016, Remain would have won. Corbyn was pathetic in the campaign, and any of the alternatives would have been better.
I thought this alternative history game was if David took over in 2010 not Ed?
Going to Greece tomorrow, can't fucking wait. Eight of us are going to Crete and we've booked a gigantic beach villa and private chef for 5 out of the 10 days.
It's probably the last time all 8 of us will be able to get away as a big group of mates+WAGs going on holiday together so we're going all out with the villa and chef.
It's been too long and we have up our freedoms far too easily. I do feel as though we need a "never again" moment. If there's another virus that targets old people then young people can't be asked to sacrifice two of the best years of their lives for it.
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
With no referendum in 2016 we might well be living under a Tory-Ukip coalition right now.
I think with a different Labour leader in 2016, Remain would have won. Corbyn was pathetic in the campaign, and any of the alternatives would have been better.
If remain won and there was a different labour leader, we would have been stuck with a bland neoliberal government trying to restart the world order that existed prior to 2007. Eventually it would fail and something else would come in its wake.
Time to tap into the PB Brains Trust. I probably have my first ever trip to Baku coming up in November - 2 weeks. Anything on the recommended activity/places to visit must do list?
Baku is brilliant
Check out the Zoroastrian fire-shrines, the burning hill, the amazing Soviet oil industry dereliction. Go drinking, it has a fab atmos. The food is intriguing and the Iran-Slav mixed race women often stunning
The markets were also great when I was there, but this is well over a decade ago, and oil money has changed it rapidly, I have been told
With two weeks you have the chance to explore. Azerbaijan is tremendously weird. The higher you get into the hills and the countryside, the better and stranger it is. Check the mad Jewish towns surviving from the 5th century BC. Entire villages in the Caucasus where, suddenly, everyone is ginger
Superb place. Have fun
Thanks, Leon. I intend to try. My first trip since Dec 2019. Need to shake off that cabin fever.
In my experience the first foreign trip after Covid is weird, and maybe not completely great. Too nervy. The second and third are fantastic, as the nerves have gone and you are FREEEEEEEE. The sensation of escape is wonderful
Friends of mine have said the exact same
However you have a good 2 weeks in Baku which is time to shake off the cobwebs and really enjoy yourself. And Baku is sufficiently mad and strange to distract anyone
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
David is the better media performer, but Ed has grown on me over the years and he is an astute judge of the problems of the country.
So Ed should have been one of the key thinkers in a David M Cabinet. Not running for leader.
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
With no referendum in 2016 we might well be living under a Tory-Ukip coalition right now.
I think with a different Labour leader in 2016, Remain would have won. Corbyn was pathetic in the campaign, and any of the alternatives would have been better.
I thought this alternative history game was if David took over in 2010 not Ed?
Better still if it were Balls.
I come to the conclusion that Ed Balls was a good administrator but a poor politician. He put the heebie jeebies in me when he was Shadow Chancellor but now comes across as a good bloke with his head screwed on. A total giant versus what’s on offer from the red team now.
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
You know what was really stupid, the EU and Junckers not seeing the danger and refusing to negotiate a sensible compromise with Cameron
Tom Harwood @tomhfh Big cheers for Angela Rayner at the LGBT+ Labour fringe. She ends by saying “women’s rights are not in conflict with trans rights, your struggle is our struggle”.
Evening all. As someone some of us remember used to say.
Topped up with petrol this evening prior to a long drive Thursday. No queue, no limit of what I could buy.
What a mess the USA is in. I suspect Trump won't be able to run again, either as a result of health problems, or legal ones
Come to that, what a mess UK is in.
Of the three petrol stations within a few miles of me, two were out of fuel today.
I did a 10-mile run in Peterborough today, whilst Mrs J's car was having its service and MOT. A few random thoughts: *) A petrol station I passed had all fuel and no queues. £30 limit on transactions. *) Peterborough isn't the prettiest places, but I managed to run three miles south to the centre on good roadside cycle paths, with no on-level road crossings. Impressive. *) Six or seven men drinking from cans of lager in various places. All alone. Quite a sad sight in the early afternoon. *) On the way back, I ran through an underpass where three youths on bikes with hoods up were smoking something a little heavy on the nose. A young woman cycled past me, saw the youths, stopped, turned around, and headed back past me.
The latter was particularly poignant. I have little fear in running or walking anywhere - I feel as though I face more danger from traffic than I do people. Yet I know female friends who are fearful of being out and about alone. It's easy for me, as a man, to forget that ...
Men are far more likely to be attacked than women. Of 96 murders in London so far this year, 83 of the victims have been men/boys. You wouldn't guess that from the news coverage. (Saying that the perpetrators were also men doesn't make it any better if you're one of the victims as far as I can see).
With respect to the thread header Florida's 7-day moving average of Covid deaths hit 364, the UK equivalent of 1200 on the 2nd of September. A truly astonishing achievement with a vaccine freely available to all.
Going to Greece tomorrow, can't fucking wait. Eight of us are going to Crete and we've booked a gigantic beach villa and private chef for 5 out of the 10 days.
It's probably the last time all 8 of us will be able to get away as a big group of mates+WAGs going on holiday together so we're going all out with the villa and chef.
It's been too long and we have up our freedoms far too easily. I do feel as though we need a "never again" moment. If there's another virus that targets old people then young people can't be asked to sacrifice two of the best years of their lives for it.
Have a good time but some young people were also severely affected by Covid, including a few who died.
It is the vaccinations which have allowed us our freedoms again for all ages
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
With no referendum in 2016 we might well be living under a Tory-Ukip coalition right now.
I think with a different Labour leader in 2016, Remain would have won. Corbyn was pathetic in the campaign, and any of the alternatives would have been better.
I thought this alternative history game was if David took over in 2010 not Ed?
Better still if it were Balls.
I come to the conclusion that Ed Balls was a good administrator but a poor politician. He put the heebie jeebies in me when he was Shadow Chancellor but now comes across as a good bloke with his head screwed on. A total giant versus what’s on offer from the red team now.
I think though that his Portillo moment made him far more human and likeable.
The opposite of Trumps reaction to electoral rejection.
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
You know what was really stupid, the EU and Junckers not seeing the danger and refusing to negotiate a sensible compromise with Cameron
That stupidity is the reason for Brexit
What was also stupid was Cameron playing bluff with the EU with his hand on full display. He’d still be PM now if he’d wanted to be, if he’d gone full throttle for Brexit when the renegotiation failed. Or even if he stood above the referendum debate and vowed to enact whatever the result.
Going to Greece tomorrow, can't fucking wait. Eight of us are going to Crete and we've booked a gigantic beach villa and private chef for 5 out of the 10 days.
It's probably the last time all 8 of us will be able to get away as a big group of mates+WAGs going on holiday together so we're going all out with the villa and chef.
It's been too long and we have up our freedoms far too easily. I do feel as though we need a "never again" moment. If there's another virus that targets old people then young people can't be asked to sacrifice two of the best years of their lives for it.
Have a good time but some young people were also severely affected by Covid, including a few who died.
It is the vaccinations which have allowed us our freedoms again for all ages
Next time we have a quarantine, it ought to be the medically vulnerable who are subject to it, not the healthy.
2017 was the biggest increase in vote for Labour since WW2
2019 was about Labour's stupid 2nd referendum policy courtesy of SKS.
2023/4 is going to be a massive disappointment for you CHB.
It was Ed Miliband in 2015 (not as left wing as Corbyn) who wrecked Labour. He lost Scotland, and took enough votes off the LDs in the LD/Con marginals to give the Cons their majority.
I don't think Miliband is really responsible for Scotland. The SNP passed Labour back in 2006 (polling). 2010 was the anomaly, with Labour clinging to its vote in the FPTP system. The other Scotland-wide votes, in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2021 all saw the SNP finish with the most votes.
Yes, I think it was having Brown as PM that meant Labour held Scotland in 2010.
It was SLAB campaigning with the Tories in 2014 that put a bucket full of nails in their coffin.
I honestly think 2014 is overplayed. It's an easy story to reach for, but the rot was set in before then. Any understanding of what went wrong for Labour in Scotland needs to take 2011 into account. So yes, you're right, nails in the coffin. But why was Labour in the coffin in the first place?
The Better Together campaign was (from a party political point of view) an enormous and total disaster for Scottish Labour. They actively campaigned against about 40% of their voting base and repeatedly insulted them and called the Nazis.
Marvellous how SLab have learned lessons and moved on from this.
Going to Greece tomorrow, can't fucking wait. Eight of us are going to Crete and we've booked a gigantic beach villa and private chef for 5 out of the 10 days.
It's probably the last time all 8 of us will be able to get away as a big group of mates+WAGs going on holiday together so we're going all out with the villa and chef.
It's been too long and we have up our freedoms far too easily. I do feel as though we need a "never again" moment. If there's another virus that targets old people then young people can't be asked to sacrifice two of the best years of their lives for it.
Suddenly and belatedly more aware of this issue, I was walking down the Regent's Canal towpath in Camden about 3 hours ago, before dusk, and two blonde young female joggers came past a large group of quite druggy young men (I'm not libelling them, the guys were clearly dealing, and rolling big joints etc)
One of the guys leered and said "you look nice in your runners, darling" in a faintly aggressive but also friendly-sexual way - ie to my mind, if the girl was in the right mood, she could have seen it merely as a verbal wolf-whistle, and a compliment to her good looks
But as I walked on I imagined what that interaction might feel like later, if the girl was, say, alone, jogging, at night - it would surely feel deeply threatening, and nothing else. A large group of young men, making overtly sexual remarks? By a canal?
Hmm. Men just never get this, or very rarely, anyway
Agreed. If strangers encounter each other, they have no way of knowing what's scary to the other, even if they are sure in their own minds that they don't mean any harm.
A West Indian friend living in a village near here says he crosses the road if he sees an elderly single woman coming towards him, because "she might feel that a big black guy was a threat, and it's no big deal to cross the road, so why risk worrying her?" Shouldn't he just smile amiably? No, he feels - she might think that was threatening too.
Life is difficult if you want to be sure not to worry anyone, isn't it? But within reason, we do need to try.
Suddenly and belatedly more aware of this issue, I was walking down the Regent's Canal towpath in Camden about 3 hours ago, before dusk, and two blonde young female joggers came past a large group of quite druggy young men (I'm not libelling them, the guys were clearly dealing, and rolling big joints etc)
One of the guys leered and said "you look nice in your runners, darling" in a faintly aggressive but also friendly-sexual way - ie to my mind, if the girl was in the right mood, she could have seen it merely as a verbal wolf-whistle, and a compliment to her good looks
But as I walked on I imagined what that interaction might feel like later, if the girl was, say, alone, jogging, at night - it would surely feel deeply threatening, and nothing else. A large group of young men, making overtly sexual remarks? By a canal?
Hmm. Men just never get this, or very rarely, anyway
Agreed. If strangers encounter each other, they have no way of knowing what's scary to the other, even if they are sure in their own minds that they don't mean any harm.
A West Indian friend living in a village near here says he crosses the road if he sees an elderly single woman coming towards him, because "she might feel that a big black guy was a threat, and it's no big deal to cross the road, so why risk worrying her?" Shouldn't he just smile amiably? No, he feels - she might think that was threatening too.
Life is difficult if you want to be sure not to worry anyone, isn't it? But within reason, we do need to try.
Yes, but the low level harassment that Leon describes is very common. What purpose was there except intimidation? Did he really expect the jogger to stop and ask him out on a date?
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
Time to tap into the PB Brains Trust. I probably have my first ever trip to Baku coming up in November - 2 weeks. Anything on the recommended activity/places to visit must do list?
Baku is brilliant
Check out the Zoroastrian fire-shrines, the burning hill, the amazing Soviet oil industry dereliction. Go drinking, it has a fab atmos. The food is intriguing and the Iran-Slav mixed race women often stunning
The markets were also great when I was there, but this is well over a decade ago, and oil money has changed it rapidly, I have been told
With two weeks you have the chance to explore. Azerbaijan is tremendously weird. The higher you get into the hills and the countryside, the better and stranger it is. Check the mad Jewish towns surviving from the 5th century BC. Entire villages in the Caucasus where, suddenly, everyone is ginger
Superb place. Have fun
Thanks, Leon. I intend to try. My first trip since Dec 2019. Need to shake off that cabin fever.
In my experience the first foreign trip after Covid is weird, and maybe not completely great. Too nervy. The second and third are fantastic, as the nerves have gone and you are FREEEEEEEE. The sensation of escape is wonderful
Friends of mine have said the exact same
However you have a good 2 weeks in Baku which is time to shake off the cobwebs and really enjoy yourself. And Baku is sufficiently mad and strange to distract anyone
The hilarious thing is that, because this work is ultimately funded by a US government department, I have to take a 6 hour online course and be certified on knowing how to travel internationally!! Only being doing the international travel thing since 1959. They must think that I am a slow learner.
Almost as idiotic as Notre Dame requiring me to pass English as a Foreign Language exam to go do an MBA there. Needless to say, I told ND to FO and went to INSEAD instead, who did not need me to prove that I spoke French. But this is a paying gig to a fascinating country I've never visited, so I'll swallow my scorn.
Evening all. As someone some of us remember used to say.
Topped up with petrol this evening prior to a long drive Thursday. No queue, no limit of what I could buy.
What a mess the USA is in. I suspect Trump won't be able to run again, either as a result of health problems, or legal ones
Come to that, what a mess UK is in.
Of the three petrol stations within a few miles of me, two were out of fuel today.
I did a 10-mile run in Peterborough today, whilst Mrs J's car was having its service and MOT. A few random thoughts: *) A petrol station I passed had all fuel and no queues. £30 limit on transactions. *) Peterborough isn't the prettiest places, but I managed to run three miles south to the centre on good roadside cycle paths, with no on-level road crossings. Impressive. *) Six or seven men drinking from cans of lager in various places. All alone. Quite a sad sight in the early afternoon. *) On the way back, I ran through an underpass where three youths on bikes with hoods up were smoking something a little heavy on the nose. A young woman cycled past me, saw the youths, stopped, turned around, and headed back past me.
The latter was particularly poignant. I have little fear in running or walking anywhere - I feel as though I face more danger from traffic than I do people. Yet I know female friends who are fearful of being out and about alone. It's easy for me, as a man, to forget that ...
There was a good thread on this on Twitter. Men just don't realise how scary it is for women to run or jog or walk alone at night, even in fairly safe neighbourhoods.
I confess I seldom consider it. I would walk anywhere in London alone, at any time. Sure there are sketchier places where I would be watchful, and cross the road maybe, and certainly not get a flashy iPhone out to call and browse, but yeah I would walk anywhere, at any time, in London, without too much worry
For some women they just won't go out alone after dark. That's it
The people who get angry about what to call people with or without penises / vaginas or who can use which public convenience would be better getting exercised about this inequality.
Yes indeed. And to my shame I had never properly considered it. Grown women scared to go out after dark?
I guess I generally know younger women who are more confident? - but also more likely to be attacked. Hmm
And I have usually lived in nicer neighborhoods, but still London is London, a massive world city, with a hint of edginess, everywhere
For once, the term "privilege" is justified. Male privilege means you can mostly walk out of the door at night, for a walk or a jog or some late night shopping, and feel pretty fine. Many women simply cannot do that, alone, or feel too scared to do it, either way. When you realise this - as a man - it is quite a shock
I pointed it out on earlier occasions - when German women were being attacked during NY's Eve celebrations. It is (dare I say it) one of the reasons women, some of them, anyway, value female only spaces - so they don't have to make any sort of assessment about whether a man is being simply friendly or something worse.
It is something all women learn to take account of from a young age.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I suspect that opinion polls are going to start reflecting that in a very big way in the party polling soon, as well. Labour are having a difficult time of it too, however. I'm beginning to get a strong feeling we might see some of the kind of polling from two or three years ago, with both main parties peforming poorly.
Suddenly and belatedly more aware of this issue, I was walking down the Regent's Canal towpath in Camden about 3 hours ago, before dusk, and two blonde young female joggers came past a large group of quite druggy young men (I'm not libelling them, the guys were clearly dealing, and rolling big joints etc)
One of the guys leered and said "you look nice in your runners, darling" in a faintly aggressive but also friendly-sexual way - ie to my mind, if the girl was in the right mood, she could have seen it merely as a verbal wolf-whistle, and a compliment to her good looks
But as I walked on I imagined what that interaction might feel like later, if the girl was, say, alone, jogging, at night - it would surely feel deeply threatening, and nothing else. A large group of young men, making overtly sexual remarks? By a canal?
Hmm. Men just never get this, or very rarely, anyway
Agreed. If strangers encounter each other, they have no way of knowing what's scary to the other, even if they are sure in their own minds that they don't mean any harm.
A West Indian friend living in a village near here says he crosses the road if he sees an elderly single woman coming towards him, because "she might feel that a big black guy was a threat, and it's no big deal to cross the road, so why risk worrying her?" Shouldn't he just smile amiably? No, he feels - she might think that was threatening too.
Life is difficult if you want to be sure not to worry anyone, isn't it? But within reason, we do need to try.
Yes, but the low level harassment that Leon describes is very common. What purpose was there except intimidation? Did he really expect the jogger to stop and ask him out on a date?
I believe Nick is agreeing with you
I don't think it is acceptable for men to make sexually suggestive remarks to women in the street, especially if they are in a big group and the girl is alone or with just one friend. It is obviously quite menacing, even if "well meant"
But nor do we want a generation of neutered men too scared to approach a woman ever.
In a bar, it is fine. Do it in a bar. The girl can always walk out and she is also surrounded by people so will feel safer
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
I like Ed Miliband but he allowed the Tories that majority in 2015 when his brother David would have done much better . From there with the majority Cameron called his stupid referendum and the rest is history .
I cannot blame him for not seeing that his brother 'would have done much better'. Narrowly, under their system, the party disagreed. If he thought he would do better he shouldn't have stood aside to let his brother have his turn.
We can only guess the psycho drama behind it. Both brothers seem to have an exaggerated view of their own abilities even for politicians. I am no fan of either but David would probably have prevented Cameron getting a majority so no Brexit referendum. To add to the charge sheet Ed was leader when the disastrous LP voting changes were introduced.
With no referendum in 2016 we might well be living under a Tory-Ukip coalition right now.
I think with a different Labour leader in 2016, Remain would have won. Corbyn was pathetic in the campaign, and any of the alternatives would have been better.
I thought this alternative history game was if David took over in 2010 not Ed?
Right now, I want an alt history where the egos of Boris and Jo Johnson were more equally balanced, so that both parties were dealing with fraternal psychodramas. Or better still, where Rachel's career in the Lib Dems took off.
Evening all. As someone some of us remember used to say.
Topped up with petrol this evening prior to a long drive Thursday. No queue, no limit of what I could buy.
What a mess the USA is in. I suspect Trump won't be able to run again, either as a result of health problems, or legal ones
Come to that, what a mess UK is in.
Of the three petrol stations within a few miles of me, two were out of fuel today.
I did a 10-mile run in Peterborough today, whilst Mrs J's car was having its service and MOT. A few random thoughts: *) A petrol station I passed had all fuel and no queues. £30 limit on transactions. *) Peterborough isn't the prettiest places, but I managed to run three miles south to the centre on good roadside cycle paths, with no on-level road crossings. Impressive. *) Six or seven men drinking from cans of lager in various places. All alone. Quite a sad sight in the early afternoon. *) On the way back, I ran through an underpass where three youths on bikes with hoods up were smoking something a little heavy on the nose. A young woman cycled past me, saw the youths, stopped, turned around, and headed back past me.
The latter was particularly poignant. I have little fear in running or walking anywhere - I feel as though I face more danger from traffic than I do people. Yet I know female friends who are fearful of being out and about alone. It's easy for me, as a man, to forget that ...
There was a good thread on this on Twitter. Men just don't realise how scary it is for women to run or jog or walk alone at night, even in fairly safe neighbourhoods.
I confess I seldom consider it. I would walk anywhere in London alone, at any time. Sure there are sketchier places where I would be watchful, and cross the road maybe, and certainly not get a flashy iPhone out to call and browse, but yeah I would walk anywhere, at any time, in London, without too much worry
For some women they just won't go out alone after dark. That's it
The people who get angry about what to call people with or without penises / vaginas or who can use which public convenience would be better getting exercised about this inequality.
Yes indeed. And to my shame I had never properly considered it. Grown women scared to go out after dark?
I guess I generally know younger women who are more confident? - but also more likely to be attacked. Hmm
And I have usually lived in nicer neighborhoods, but still London is London, a massive world city, with a hint of edginess, everywhere
For once, the term "privilege" is justified. Male privilege means you can mostly walk out of the door at night, for a walk or a jog or some late night shopping, and feel pretty fine. Many women simply cannot do that, alone, or feel too scared to do it, either way. When you realise this - as a man - it is quite a shock
I pointed it out on earlier occasions - when German women were being attacked during NY's Eve celebrations. It is (dare I say it) one of the reasons women, some of them, anyway, value female only spaces - so they don't have to make any sort of assessment about whether a man is being simply friendly or something worse.
It is something all women learn to take account of from a young age.
Would that it were different.
I was actually thinking of you, in part, when I made these comments
You strike me as a fairly forthright and confident woman (tho of course your real persona may be very different). I can't imagine you being too scared to walk or jog around Hampstead (admittedly a pretty safe place) at 10pm or even 1am?
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is directly about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
True enough, I think it's excessive, but it's not constant.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
Time to tap into the PB Brains Trust. I probably have my first ever trip to Baku coming up in November - 2 weeks. Anything on the recommended activity/places to visit must do list?
Baku is brilliant
Check out the Zoroastrian fire-shrines, the burning hill, the amazing Soviet oil industry dereliction. Go drinking, it has a fab atmos. The food is intriguing and the Iran-Slav mixed race women often stunning
The markets were also great when I was there, but this is well over a decade ago, and oil money has changed it rapidly, I have been told
With two weeks you have the chance to explore. Azerbaijan is tremendously weird. The higher you get into the hills and the countryside, the better and stranger it is. Check the mad Jewish towns surviving from the 5th century BC. Entire villages in the Caucasus where, suddenly, everyone is ginger
Superb place. Have fun
Thanks, Leon. I intend to try. My first trip since Dec 2019. Need to shake off that cabin fever.
In my experience the first foreign trip after Covid is weird, and maybe not completely great. Too nervy. The second and third are fantastic, as the nerves have gone and you are FREEEEEEEE. The sensation of escape is wonderful
Friends of mine have said the exact same
However you have a good 2 weeks in Baku which is time to shake off the cobwebs and really enjoy yourself. And Baku is sufficiently mad and strange to distract anyone
The hilarious thing is that, because this work is ultimately funded by a US government department, I have to take a 6 hour online course and be certified on knowing how to travel internationally!! Only being doing the international travel thing since 1959. They must think that I am a slow learner.
Almost as idiotic as Notre Dame requiring me to pass English as a Foreign Language exam to go do an MBA there. Needless to say, I told ND to FO and went to INSEAD instead, who did not need me to prove that I spoke French. But this is a paying gig to a fascinating country I've never visited, so I'll swallow my scorn.
You're going to have a marvellous time
If I had to choose a new country to visit right now, Azerbaijan would be right up there, as it is so unusual, peculiar, exotic
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
Probably about as much effect as your "ooh, someone in Labour has said something inconvenient".
Or anything I've said, ever.
The vast bulk of the British electorate have got far more sense than to watch the daily ups and downs. If in 2023/4, this government has been seen to do a good job, they will get another term. If not, they GBP will look at the alternative and see if they can be trusted.
We sit here like pigeons on Nelson's column, convinced that people are interested in us, rather than the statue we sit upon.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
I can't really understand hatred at all, at least not long-term hatred. It requires too much energy for me to maintain.
Where do we think COVID is going in the UK in the coming weeks? I can't quite decide between stop/start or England succumbing to a full on Scot/Wales/NI peak in the coming couple of weeks:
1. A lot of Northern and Midland England, in particular, showing big increases in COVID rates off average baselines. 2. It's not the usual suspects - most of the core Northern and Midland cities, plus early Delta wave places like Blackburn, Bolton and Dewsbury are now quite obvious cold spots (very obvious when the HMG map is zoomed in to show local rates). Southern cities outside London, a less obvious distinction. 3. Possible reasons for cities doing OK, population denominators too high in student areas out of term time, students not yet back long enough for the exponent to really kick in, students most recently vaccinated cohort with best current immunity, lower numbers of kids / parents overall in these areas. 4. My impression is that low rates spread a bit from the city centres into more mixed city communities, so maybe it is herd immunity as well. 5. The cities could, of course, just follow suit and get high rates in the next couple of weeks, especially if students are vulnerable. 6. Demograhically, Malmesbury's 10-15 age group increase is starting to slow, but 5-9s could catch up and make the next increase pulse (Hospitalisations then go off how that spreads through parents into the community). 7. And the weather has dropped well below 18C and is set to stay down for a while - but does a child's indoor/ outdoor / contact / ventilation behaviour vary less than an adult's
There is potential for another big increase in cases and hospitalisations through October, though I think it will be running out of people to infect after that and half term / early November could see a very big drop and Christmas approaching on a much lower baseline.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
On topic, if Trump wants the nomination, he will get it and it is increasingly clear he does. Also, he is playing a smart game by keeping relatively quiet. That might not be a popular idea on here given the consensus that Trump is a stupid buffoon but he is a lot smarter than many give him credit for.
There was also a good piece by Conrad Black today, which won’t please many on here but the link is below. With regards to his comments on the 2020 election, they will make many here choke but, quite frankly, that’s not important - this is what the GOP is thinking about what happened in November:
Final point. I’m noticing a worrying trend on here that, if Trump does run again in 2024, the only way he will win is by fraud / illegitimate means ie his election will be illegitimate. Ironically, there is a fair bit of overlap between those who are the strongest in pushing this view and those who are most shrill about saying how the GOP’s conduct remains the biggest threat to American democracy. It doesn’t seem to occur to many on here that Trump may win because people will be sick of Biden’s incompetence but it is worrying that we are starting to see the building blocks being out in place to claim any Trump 2024 win is, by default, illegitimate.
"I’m noticing a worrying trend on here that, if Trump does run again in 2024, the only way he will win is by fraud / illegitimate means"
Really?
Maybe I've missed it, but I haven't seen a single comment along those lines.
Presumably you have plenty of examples.
I think you have just had a few examples post your question with one poster admirably admitting his comments could be interpreted as such. And that Trump is a cheat. Plus another one who said that Republican cheating had been going on for years. It’s clear there will be a good solid group - as post-2016 - who would take the view that Trump could not have won legitimately and therefore must have cheated
Anyone who plays golf knows that Trump is a cheat.
Yes, and cheating at golf is a massive red flag. Hence the infamous scene from Goldfinger.
(Filmed at Stoke Poges GC - they are quite proud of it there)
Trump does bear a resemblance.
Of course in the novel it was Bridge he was cheating at. Can't really imagine Trump playing Bridge.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
Probably about as much effect as your "ooh, someone in Labour has said something inconvenient".
Or anything I've said, ever.
The vast bulk of the British electorate have got far more sense than to watch the daily ups and downs. If in 2023/4, this government has been seen to do a good job, they will get another term. If not, they GBP will look at the alternative and see if they can be trusted.
We sit here like pigeons on Nelson's column, convinced that people are interested in us, rather than the statue we sit upon.
But where's the fun in acknowledging that?
Nonsense, people hang on my opinions. You should see how happy people's faces are after they see I have finished my lengthy speeches about the latest political minutiae. Sometimes they even sigh expansively, I assume as I have just blown their minds.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
You know I just do not hate any politician, as hate takes too much energy
Dislike most certainly, and Trump and Corbyn top my list but to be honest believe it or not I just cannot hate
On topic, if Trump wants the nomination, he will get it and it is increasingly clear he does. Also, he is playing a smart game by keeping relatively quiet. That might not be a popular idea on here given the consensus that Trump is a stupid buffoon but he is a lot smarter than many give him credit for.
There was also a good piece by Conrad Black today, which won’t please many on here but the link is below. With regards to his comments on the 2020 election, they will make many here choke but, quite frankly, that’s not important - this is what the GOP is thinking about what happened in November:
Final point. I’m noticing a worrying trend on here that, if Trump does run again in 2024, the only way he will win is by fraud / illegitimate means ie his election will be illegitimate. Ironically, there is a fair bit of overlap between those who are the strongest in pushing this view and those who are most shrill about saying how the GOP’s conduct remains the biggest threat to American democracy. It doesn’t seem to occur to many on here that Trump may win because people will be sick of Biden’s incompetence but it is worrying that we are starting to see the building blocks being out in place to claim any Trump 2024 win is, by default, illegitimate.
"I’m noticing a worrying trend on here that, if Trump does run again in 2024, the only way he will win is by fraud / illegitimate means"
Really?
Maybe I've missed it, but I haven't seen a single comment along those lines.
Presumably you have plenty of examples.
I think you have just had a few examples post your question with one poster admirably admitting his comments could be interpreted as such. And that Trump is a cheat. Plus another one who said that Republican cheating had been going on for years. It’s clear there will be a good solid group - as post-2016 - who would take the view that Trump could not have won legitimately and therefore must have cheated
Anyone who plays golf knows that Trump is a cheat.
Yes, and cheating at golf is a massive red flag. Hence the infamous scene from Goldfinger.
(Filmed at Stoke Poges GC - they are quite proud of it there)
Trump does bear a resemblance.
Of course in the novel it was Bridge he was cheating at. Can't really imagine Trump playing Bridge.
Partner sacked after every lost hand. And he'd try to re-negotiate every contract. Then not honour it.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
Indeed. It seems so all consuming. I’ve no love for Johnson, and there must be millions of more able people in the country, but he is PM now, and there is little we can do about it until the next election. Endlessly reposting someone else’s thoughts won’t shift the dial an inch, but if it makes him/her happy so be it. We are all free to ignore his posts, as you all are to ignore mine...
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
I can't really understand hatred at all, at least not long-term hatred. It requires too much energy for me to maintain.
There's something in that. I guess it depends on your personal definition of 'hatred'. How far does it differ from 'deep dislike' for example.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
Unless you are comparing Johnson to Hitler, I don't see how that is at all relevant.
Time to tap into the PB Brains Trust. I probably have my first ever trip to Baku coming up in November - 2 weeks. Anything on the recommended activity/places to visit must do list?
Baku is brilliant
Check out the Zoroastrian fire-shrines, the burning hill, the amazing Soviet oil industry dereliction. Go drinking, it has a fab atmos. The food is intriguing and the Iran-Slav mixed race women often stunning
The markets were also great when I was there, but this is well over a decade ago, and oil money has changed it rapidly, I have been told
With two weeks you have the chance to explore. Azerbaijan is tremendously weird. The higher you get into the hills and the countryside, the better and stranger it is. Check the mad Jewish towns surviving from the 5th century BC. Entire villages in the Caucasus where, suddenly, everyone is ginger
Superb place. Have fun
Thanks, Leon. I intend to try. My first trip since Dec 2019. Need to shake off that cabin fever.
In my experience the first foreign trip after Covid is weird, and maybe not completely great. Too nervy. The second and third are fantastic, as the nerves have gone and you are FREEEEEEEE. The sensation of escape is wonderful
Friends of mine have said the exact same
However you have a good 2 weeks in Baku which is time to shake off the cobwebs and really enjoy yourself. And Baku is sufficiently mad and strange to distract anyone
The hilarious thing is that, because this work is ultimately funded by a US government department, I have to take a 6 hour online course and be certified on knowing how to travel internationally!! Only being doing the international travel thing since 1959. They must think that I am a slow learner.
Almost as idiotic as Notre Dame requiring me to pass English as a Foreign Language exam to go do an MBA there. Needless to say, I told ND to FO and went to INSEAD instead, who did not need me to prove that I spoke French. But this is a paying gig to a fascinating country I've never visited, so I'll swallow my scorn.
You're going to have a marvellous time
If I had to choose a new country to visit right now, Azerbaijan would be right up there, as it is so unusual, peculiar, exotic
Certainly a country I have not spent long enough in.
Had an interesting "negotiation", with a former Greco-Roman wrestling champion. He would politely (at first at least) listen to my case as to why we should make a change to their contract, say "No - next...." and wait for me to make the case on the next point with an identical outcome....
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
You know I just do not hate any politician, as hate takes too much energy
Dislike most certainly, and Trump and Corbyn top my list but to be honest believe it or not I just cannot hate
I think that's generally a good philosophy but then I think of someone like Hitler or Stalin, or Mao...
Where do we think COVID is going in the UK in the coming weeks? I can't quite decide between stop/start or England succumbing to a full on Scot/Wales/NI peak in the coming couple of weeks:
1. A lot of Northern and Midland England, in particular, showing big increases in COVID rates off average baselines. 2. It's not the usual suspects - most of the core Northern and Midland cities, plus early Delta wave places like Blackburn, Bolton and Dewsbury are now quite obvious cold spots (very obvious when the HMG map is zoomed in to show local rates). Southern cities outside London, a less obvious distinction. 3. Possible reasons for cities doing OK, population denominators too high in student areas out of term time, students not yet back long enough for the exponent to really kick in, students most recently vaccinated cohort with best current immunity, lower numbers of kids / parents overall in these areas. 4. My impression is that low rates spread a bit from the city centres into more mixed city communities, so maybe it is herd immunity as well. 5. The cities could, of course, just follow suit and get high rates in the next couple of weeks, especially if students are vulnerable. 6. Demograhically, Malmesbury's 10-15 age group increase is starting to slow, but 5-9s could catch up and make the next increase pulse (Hospitalisations then go off how that spreads through parents into the community). 7. And the weather has dropped well below 18C and is set to stay down for a while - but does a child's indoor/ outdoor / contact / ventilation behaviour vary less than an adult's
There is potential for another big increase in cases and hospitalisations through October, though I think it will be running out of people to infect after that and half term / early November could see a very big drop and Christmas approaching on a much lower baseline.
Personally think cases will carry on at a similar level, mainly due to the kids, but I’m hopeful that hospitalisation and in hospital numbers will carry on falling, especially with the boosters going in. We are reaching, if we haven’t already, the time to stop worrying about cases.
Where do we think COVID is going in the UK in the coming weeks? I can't quite decide between stop/start or England succumbing to a full on Scot/Wales/NI peak in the coming couple of weeks:
1. A lot of Northern and Midland England, in particular, showing big increases in COVID rates off average baselines. 2. It's not the usual suspects - most of the core Northern and Midland cities, plus early Delta wave places like Blackburn, Bolton and Dewsbury are now quite obvious cold spots (very obvious when the HMG map is zoomed in to show local rates). Southern cities outside London, a less obvious distinction. 3. Possible reasons for cities doing OK, population denominators too high in student areas out of term time, students not yet back long enough for the exponent to really kick in, students most recently vaccinated cohort with best current immunity, lower numbers of kids / parents overall in these areas. 4. My impression is that low rates spread a bit from the city centres into more mixed city communities, so maybe it is herd immunity as well. 5. The cities could, of course, just follow suit and get high rates in the next couple of weeks, especially if students are vulnerable. 6. Demograhically, Malmesbury's 10-15 age group increase is starting to slow, but 5-9s could catch up and make the next increase pulse (Hospitalisations then go off how that spreads through parents into the community). 7. And the weather has dropped well below 18C and is set to stay down for a while - but does a child's indoor/ outdoor / contact / ventilation behaviour vary less than an adult's
There is potential for another big increase in cases and hospitalisations through October, though I think it will be running out of people to infect after that and half term / early November could see a very big drop and Christmas approaching on a much lower baseline.
I think a large part of our country considers it over, and it is not featuring in the media anything like it was with the huge bonus that we do not have to listen to iSage nonsense anymore
On topic, if Trump wants the nomination, he will get it and it is increasingly clear he does. Also, he is playing a smart game by keeping relatively quiet. That might not be a popular idea on here given the consensus that Trump is a stupid buffoon but he is a lot smarter than many give him credit for.
There was also a good piece by Conrad Black today, which won’t please many on here but the link is below. With regards to his comments on the 2020 election, they will make many here choke but, quite frankly, that’s not important - this is what the GOP is thinking about what happened in November:
Final point. I’m noticing a worrying trend on here that, if Trump does run again in 2024, the only way he will win is by fraud / illegitimate means ie his election will be illegitimate. Ironically, there is a fair bit of overlap between those who are the strongest in pushing this view and those who are most shrill about saying how the GOP’s conduct remains the biggest threat to American democracy. It doesn’t seem to occur to many on here that Trump may win because people will be sick of Biden’s incompetence but it is worrying that we are starting to see the building blocks being out in place to claim any Trump 2024 win is, by default, illegitimate.
"I’m noticing a worrying trend on here that, if Trump does run again in 2024, the only way he will win is by fraud / illegitimate means"
Really?
Maybe I've missed it, but I haven't seen a single comment along those lines.
Presumably you have plenty of examples.
I think you have just had a few examples post your question with one poster admirably admitting his comments could be interpreted as such. And that Trump is a cheat. Plus another one who said that Republican cheating had been going on for years. It’s clear there will be a good solid group - as post-2016 - who would take the view that Trump could not have won legitimately and therefore must have cheated
Anyone who plays golf knows that Trump is a cheat.
Yes, and cheating at golf is a massive red flag. Hence the infamous scene from Goldfinger.
(Filmed at Stoke Poges GC - they are quite proud of it there)
Trump does bear a resemblance.
Of course in the novel it was Bridge he was cheating at. Can't really imagine Trump playing Bridge.
Where do we think COVID is going in the UK in the coming weeks? I can't quite decide between stop/start or England succumbing to a full on Scot/Wales/NI peak in the coming couple of weeks:
1. A lot of Northern and Midland England, in particular, showing big increases in COVID rates off average baselines. 2. It's not the usual suspects - most of the core Northern and Midland cities, plus early Delta wave places like Blackburn, Bolton and Dewsbury are now quite obvious cold spots (very obvious when the HMG map is zoomed in to show local rates). Southern cities outside London, a less obvious distinction. 3. Possible reasons for cities doing OK, population denominators too high in student areas out of term time, students not yet back long enough for the exponent to really kick in, students most recently vaccinated cohort with best current immunity, lower numbers of kids / parents overall in these areas. 4. My impression is that low rates spread a bit from the city centres into more mixed city communities, so maybe it is herd immunity as well. 5. The cities could, of course, just follow suit and get high rates in the next couple of weeks, especially if students are vulnerable. 6. Demograhically, Malmesbury's 10-15 age group increase is starting to slow, but 5-9s could catch up and make the next increase pulse (Hospitalisations then go off how that spreads through parents into the community). 7. And the weather has dropped well below 18C and is set to stay down for a while - but does a child's indoor/ outdoor / contact / ventilation behaviour vary less than an adult's
There is potential for another big increase in cases and hospitalisations through October, though I think it will be running out of people to infect after that and half term / early November could see a very big drop and Christmas approaching on a much lower baseline.
At a million cases per month split between vaxxed and unvaxxed, there will still be plenty of cases until at least Christmas. There are 5 million unvaxxed.
I reckon cases will bump up and down at much the same numbers that we have had for the last 2 months for another few months yet.
Where do we think COVID is going in the UK in the coming weeks? I can't quite decide between stop/start or England succumbing to a full on Scot/Wales/NI peak in the coming couple of weeks:
1. A lot of Northern and Midland England, in particular, showing big increases in COVID rates off average baselines. 2. It's not the usual suspects - most of the core Northern and Midland cities, plus early Delta wave places like Blackburn, Bolton and Dewsbury are now quite obvious cold spots (very obvious when the HMG map is zoomed in to show local rates). Southern cities outside London, a less obvious distinction. 3. Possible reasons for cities doing OK, population denominators too high in student areas out of term time, students not yet back long enough for the exponent to really kick in, students most recently vaccinated cohort with best current immunity, lower numbers of kids / parents overall in these areas. 4. My impression is that low rates spread a bit from the city centres into more mixed city communities, so maybe it is herd immunity as well. 5. The cities could, of course, just follow suit and get high rates in the next couple of weeks, especially if students are vulnerable. 6. Demograhically, Malmesbury's 10-15 age group increase is starting to slow, but 5-9s could catch up and make the next increase pulse (Hospitalisations then go off how that spreads through parents into the community). 7. And the weather has dropped well below 18C and is set to stay down for a while - but does a child's indoor/ outdoor / contact / ventilation behaviour vary less than an adult's
There is potential for another big increase in cases and hospitalisations through October, though I think it will be running out of people to infect after that and half term / early November could see a very big drop and Christmas approaching on a much lower baseline.
I think a large part of our country considers it over, and it is not featuring in the media anything like it was with the huge bonus that we do not have to listen to iSage nonsense anymore
You know what, I've never seen anything about iSage ever, apart from on here. I can't imagine why you think you "had" to listen to them.
Black Labour group say the party is ‘no longer a safe space’ for black members: Starmer faces claims that anti-black racism is being ignored.
Jeremy Corbyn: Keir Starmer wants to prop up the wealthy and the powerful Labour membership and trade unions are under attack because they want social change
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
You know I just do not hate any politician, as hate takes too much energy
Dislike most certainly, and Trump and Corbyn top my list but to be honest believe it or not I just cannot hate
I think that's generally a good philosophy but then I think of someone like Hitler or Stalin, or Mao...
Sure, but those are very much outliers, and while they certainly engaged in politics, are not what people are thinking of when they talk in an everyday context of liking or hating politicians. I don't think everyday casual expressions such as 'I do not hate any poltician' needs an explicit caveat of 'unless they are Hitler'.
One reason I dislike Trump so much is precisely because he stirs up my emotions so much more than any other politician, even those I like or dislike.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
Unless you are comparing Johnson to Hitler, I don't see how that is at all relevant.
Of course not.
But you said "I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician" Not specifically Johnson but 'a politician'.
I inferred from that that you could think of no politician deserving of hate. Hitler was a politician. I rest my case.
Where do we think COVID is going in the UK in the coming weeks? I can't quite decide between stop/start or England succumbing to a full on Scot/Wales/NI peak in the coming couple of weeks:
1. A lot of Northern and Midland England, in particular, showing big increases in COVID rates off average baselines. 2. It's not the usual suspects - most of the core Northern and Midland cities, plus early Delta wave places like Blackburn, Bolton and Dewsbury are now quite obvious cold spots (very obvious when the HMG map is zoomed in to show local rates). Southern cities outside London, a less obvious distinction. 3. Possible reasons for cities doing OK, population denominators too high in student areas out of term time, students not yet back long enough for the exponent to really kick in, students most recently vaccinated cohort with best current immunity, lower numbers of kids / parents overall in these areas. 4. My impression is that low rates spread a bit from the city centres into more mixed city communities, so maybe it is herd immunity as well. 5. The cities could, of course, just follow suit and get high rates in the next couple of weeks, especially if students are vulnerable. 6. Demograhically, Malmesbury's 10-15 age group increase is starting to slow, but 5-9s could catch up and make the next increase pulse (Hospitalisations then go off how that spreads through parents into the community). 7. And the weather has dropped well below 18C and is set to stay down for a while - but does a child's indoor/ outdoor / contact / ventilation behaviour vary less than an adult's
There is potential for another big increase in cases and hospitalisations through October, though I think it will be running out of people to infect after that and half term / early November could see a very big drop and Christmas approaching on a much lower baseline.
I think a large part of our country considers it over, and it is not featuring in the media anything like it was with the huge bonus that we do not have to listen to iSage nonsense anymore
You know what, I've never seen anything about iSage ever, apart from on here. I can't imagine why you think you "had" to listen to them.
There members have frequently been on the bbc and sky etc, usually spitting out worst case scenarios. It’s been very noticeable.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
You know I just do not hate any politician, as hate takes too much energy
Dislike most certainly, and Trump and Corbyn top my list but to be honest believe it or not I just cannot hate
I think that's generally a good philosophy but then I think of someone like Hitler or Stalin, or Mao...
I just do not do hate and I am not being self righteous or religious but I do dislike, even intensely in the case if Trump and Corbyn
On topic, if Trump wants the nomination, he will get it and it is increasingly clear he does. Also, he is playing a smart game by keeping relatively quiet. That might not be a popular idea on here given the consensus that Trump is a stupid buffoon but he is a lot smarter than many give him credit for.
There was also a good piece by Conrad Black today, which won’t please many on here but the link is below. With regards to his comments on the 2020 election, they will make many here choke but, quite frankly, that’s not important - this is what the GOP is thinking about what happened in November:
Final point. I’m noticing a worrying trend on here that, if Trump does run again in 2024, the only way he will win is by fraud / illegitimate means ie his election will be illegitimate. Ironically, there is a fair bit of overlap between those who are the strongest in pushing this view and those who are most shrill about saying how the GOP’s conduct remains the biggest threat to American democracy. It doesn’t seem to occur to many on here that Trump may win because people will be sick of Biden’s incompetence but it is worrying that we are starting to see the building blocks being out in place to claim any Trump 2024 win is, by default, illegitimate.
"I’m noticing a worrying trend on here that, if Trump does run again in 2024, the only way he will win is by fraud / illegitimate means"
Really?
Maybe I've missed it, but I haven't seen a single comment along those lines.
Presumably you have plenty of examples.
I think you have just had a few examples post your question with one poster admirably admitting his comments could be interpreted as such. And that Trump is a cheat. Plus another one who said that Republican cheating had been going on for years. It’s clear there will be a good solid group - as post-2016 - who would take the view that Trump could not have won legitimately and therefore must have cheated
Anyone who plays golf knows that Trump is a cheat.
Yes, and cheating at golf is a massive red flag. Hence the infamous scene from Goldfinger.
(Filmed at Stoke Poges GC - they are quite proud of it there)
Trump does bear a resemblance.
Of course in the novel it was Bridge he was cheating at. Can't really imagine Trump playing Bridge.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
Unless you are comparing Johnson to Hitler, I don't see how that is at all relevant.
Of course not.
But you said "I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician" Not specifically Johnson but 'a politician'.
I inferred from that that you could think of no politician deserving of hate. Hitler was a politician. I rest my case.
Of course, there have been some pretty nasty politicians in history. But that's not really the context of what I was saying, is it? But for the avoidance of any doubt "I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a non-dictator, mainstream politician".
Where do we think COVID is going in the UK in the coming weeks? I can't quite decide between stop/start or England succumbing to a full on Scot/Wales/NI peak in the coming couple of weeks:
1. A lot of Northern and Midland England, in particular, showing big increases in COVID rates off average baselines. 2. It's not the usual suspects - most of the core Northern and Midland cities, plus early Delta wave places like Blackburn, Bolton and Dewsbury are now quite obvious cold spots (very obvious when the HMG map is zoomed in to show local rates). Southern cities outside London, a less obvious distinction. 3. Possible reasons for cities doing OK, population denominators too high in student areas out of term time, students not yet back long enough for the exponent to really kick in, students most recently vaccinated cohort with best current immunity, lower numbers of kids / parents overall in these areas. 4. My impression is that low rates spread a bit from the city centres into more mixed city communities, so maybe it is herd immunity as well. 5. The cities could, of course, just follow suit and get high rates in the next couple of weeks, especially if students are vulnerable. 6. Demograhically, Malmesbury's 10-15 age group increase is starting to slow, but 5-9s could catch up and make the next increase pulse (Hospitalisations then go off how that spreads through parents into the community). 7. And the weather has dropped well below 18C and is set to stay down for a while - but does a child's indoor/ outdoor / contact / ventilation behaviour vary less than an adult's
There is potential for another big increase in cases and hospitalisations through October, though I think it will be running out of people to infect after that and half term / early November could see a very big drop and Christmas approaching on a much lower baseline.
I think a large part of our country considers it over, and it is not featuring in the media anything like it was with the huge bonus that we do not have to listen to iSage nonsense anymore
You know what, I've never seen anything about iSage ever, apart from on here. I can't imagine why you think you "had" to listen to them.
There members have frequently been on the bbc and sky etc, usually spitting out worst case scenarios. It’s been very noticeable.
Even more worrying, they are everywhere without revealing their affiliation.
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
You know I just do not hate any politician, as hate takes too much energy
Dislike most certainly, and Trump and Corbyn top my list but to be honest believe it or not I just cannot hate
I think that's generally a good philosophy but then I think of someone like Hitler or Stalin, or Mao...
I just do not do hate and I am not being self righteous or religious but I do dislike, even intensely in the case if Trump and Corbyn
Tbh Big_G, I'm with you.
I am arguing with @RobD and @kle4 for the sake of a bit of challenge and discussion really. Sorry guys!
I agree, hate is not the answer. Intense dislike, distrust, distaste and probably a few other dis-es is what I feel for these people. Not hate - hate breeds hate.
Where do we think COVID is going in the UK in the coming weeks? I can't quite decide between stop/start or England succumbing to a full on Scot/Wales/NI peak in the coming couple of weeks:
1. A lot of Northern and Midland England, in particular, showing big increases in COVID rates off average baselines. 2. It's not the usual suspects - most of the core Northern and Midland cities, plus early Delta wave places like Blackburn, Bolton and Dewsbury are now quite obvious cold spots (very obvious when the HMG map is zoomed in to show local rates). Southern cities outside London, a less obvious distinction. 3. Possible reasons for cities doing OK, population denominators too high in student areas out of term time, students not yet back long enough for the exponent to really kick in, students most recently vaccinated cohort with best current immunity, lower numbers of kids / parents overall in these areas. 4. My impression is that low rates spread a bit from the city centres into more mixed city communities, so maybe it is herd immunity as well. 5. The cities could, of course, just follow suit and get high rates in the next couple of weeks, especially if students are vulnerable. 6. Demograhically, Malmesbury's 10-15 age group increase is starting to slow, but 5-9s could catch up and make the next increase pulse (Hospitalisations then go off how that spreads through parents into the community). 7. And the weather has dropped well below 18C and is set to stay down for a while - but does a child's indoor/ outdoor / contact / ventilation behaviour vary less than an adult's
There is potential for another big increase in cases and hospitalisations through October, though I think it will be running out of people to infect after that and half term / early November could see a very big drop and Christmas approaching on a much lower baseline.
I think a large part of our country considers it over, and it is not featuring in the media anything like it was with the huge bonus that we do not have to listen to iSage nonsense anymore
You know what, I've never seen anything about iSage ever, apart from on here. I can't imagine why you think you "had" to listen to them.
There members have frequently been on the bbc and sky etc, usually spitting out worst case scenarios. It’s been very noticeable.
You know, that's got me thinking. I reckon it's been over 6 years since I watched news on the tv. Is it still a really soul-destroying experience?
Where do we think COVID is going in the UK in the coming weeks? I can't quite decide between stop/start or England succumbing to a full on Scot/Wales/NI peak in the coming couple of weeks:
1. A lot of Northern and Midland England, in particular, showing big increases in COVID rates off average baselines. 2. It's not the usual suspects - most of the core Northern and Midland cities, plus early Delta wave places like Blackburn, Bolton and Dewsbury are now quite obvious cold spots (very obvious when the HMG map is zoomed in to show local rates). Southern cities outside London, a less obvious distinction. 3. Possible reasons for cities doing OK, population denominators too high in student areas out of term time, students not yet back long enough for the exponent to really kick in, students most recently vaccinated cohort with best current immunity, lower numbers of kids / parents overall in these areas. 4. My impression is that low rates spread a bit from the city centres into more mixed city communities, so maybe it is herd immunity as well. 5. The cities could, of course, just follow suit and get high rates in the next couple of weeks, especially if students are vulnerable. 6. Demograhically, Malmesbury's 10-15 age group increase is starting to slow, but 5-9s could catch up and make the next increase pulse (Hospitalisations then go off how that spreads through parents into the community). 7. And the weather has dropped well below 18C and is set to stay down for a while - but does a child's indoor/ outdoor / contact / ventilation behaviour vary less than an adult's
There is potential for another big increase in cases and hospitalisations through October, though I think it will be running out of people to infect after that and half term / early November could see a very big drop and Christmas approaching on a much lower baseline.
I think a large part of our country considers it over, and it is not featuring in the media anything like it was with the huge bonus that we do not have to listen to iSage nonsense anymore
You know what, I've never seen anything about iSage ever, apart from on here. I can't imagine why you think you "had" to listen to them.
With respect if you followed the news media they were never off it, and many on here will concur we are better served with less noise from them
Black Labour group say the party is ‘no longer a safe space’ for black members: Starmer faces claims that anti-black racism is being ignored.
Jeremy Corbyn: Keir Starmer wants to prop up the wealthy and the powerful Labour membership and trade unions are under attack because they want social change
Is it all about Black members being disciplined for alleged anti-semitism? That is what it sounds like:
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
Unless you are comparing Johnson to Hitler, I don't see how that is at all relevant.
Of course not.
But you said "I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician" Not specifically Johnson but 'a politician'.
I inferred from that that you could think of no politician deserving of hate. Hitler was a politician. I rest my case.
Of course, there have been some pretty nasty politicians in history. But that's not really the context of what I was saying, is it? But for the avoidance of any doubt "I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a non-dictator, mainstream politician".
Stupidity is certainly the driving force behind Brexit.
A polite question this time
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
If anyone has had a good fuel crisis, it's been Scott. He's been right on form, and yes, moving me further towards the Brexit-is-being-done-badly position. Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
I know Scott gets a lot of stick on here but I for one value his posts - it saves me bothering with Twitter first-hand, which is a big plus.
He deserve some of that stick too. Not everything is about Brexit. But when there are clearly negative Brexit related issues, Scott's right in his element.
Not everything he posts is about Brexit either - see the earlier 'Don't Panic' Johnson cartoon.
No, his hatred of Johnson gets a look in every now and again.
And a very understandable hatred it is too ;-)
Not really. I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician.
What, never?!
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
You know I just do not hate any politician, as hate takes too much energy
Dislike most certainly, and Trump and Corbyn top my list but to be honest believe it or not I just cannot hate
I think that's generally a good philosophy but then I think of someone like Hitler or Stalin, or Mao...
I just do not do hate and I am not being self righteous or religious but I do dislike, even intensely in the case if Trump and Corbyn
Tbh Big_G, I'm with you.
I am arguing with @RobD and @kle4 for the sake of a bit of challenge and discussion really. Sorry guys!
I agree, hate is not the answer. Intense dislike, distrust, distaste and probably a few other dis-es is what I feel for these people. Not hate - hate breeds hate.
Comments
No surprise they campaigned hard against the equally aggressive Scottish Nationalists and for the Union in the 2014 referendum. Not that at a UK level SLab's future really matters anyway, whether an MP is Labour or SNP they will still vote to make the Labour leader PM.
Sturgeon's domestic policies are also little different to what Labour FMs pursued at Holyrood and of course the UK government gets the final say on the union anyway
I just remembered Philip Hammond. Had forgotten about him. You see, things have been worse!
Whereas 22% the public and 47% the media which must hurt you to the core in view of your constant tweeting
And the second colleague then, anticipating our return the next day, uttered, in childlike innocence, the line " I wouldn't mind banging that in the morning."
It's probably the last time all 8 of us will be able to get away as a big group of mates+WAGs going on holiday together so we're going all out with the villa and chef.
It's been too long and we have up our freedoms far too easily. I do feel as though we need a "never again" moment. If there's another virus that targets old people then young people can't be asked to sacrifice two of the best years of their lives for it.
Torsten Bell
@TorstenBell
Main Labour conference take-away: we now know what the next election is going to be about
https://twitter.com/TorstenBell/status/1442946364669788161
Friends of mine have said the exact same
However you have a good 2 weeks in Baku which is time to shake off the cobwebs and really enjoy yourself. And Baku is sufficiently mad and strange to distract anyone
Councillor Nick Small
@CllrNickSmall
·
2m
Clause 1 of the Labour Party - to win elections to bring about change.
That stupidity is the reason for Brexit
Tom Harwood
@tomhfh
Big cheers for Angela Rayner at the LGBT+ Labour fringe. She ends by saying “women’s rights are not in conflict with trans rights, your struggle is our struggle”.
===
Er, yes they are according to leading feminists.
It is the vaccinations which have allowed us our freedoms again for all ages
The opposite of Trumps reaction to electoral rejection.
A team that doesn't even come from a real country.
Keep safe
A West Indian friend living in a village near here says he crosses the road if he sees an elderly single woman coming towards him, because "she might feel that a big black guy was a threat, and it's no big deal to cross the road, so why risk worrying her?" Shouldn't he just smile amiably? No, he feels - she might think that was threatening too.
Life is difficult if you want to be sure not to worry anyone, isn't it? But within reason, we do need to try.
Well it's a view
Just interested in yours.
Do you really believe your huge anti brexit output has changed any minds rather than the opposite
Footballers are like anyone else in show business, worth what the customers will pay for.
Sorry that isn't the answer you wanted.
Almost as idiotic as Notre Dame requiring me to pass English as a Foreign Language exam to go do an MBA there. Needless to say, I told ND to FO and went to INSEAD instead, who did not need me to prove that I spoke French. But this is a paying gig to a fascinating country I've never visited, so I'll swallow my scorn.
I pointed it out on earlier occasions - when German women were being attacked during NY's Eve celebrations. It is (dare I say it) one of the reasons women, some of them, anyway, value female only spaces - so they don't have to make any sort of assessment about whether a man is being simply friendly or something worse.
It is something all women learn to take account of from a young age.
Would that it were different.
I don't think it is acceptable for men to make sexually suggestive remarks to women in the street, especially if they are in a big group and the girl is alone or with just one friend. It is obviously quite menacing, even if "well meant"
But nor do we want a generation of neutered men too scared to approach a woman ever.
In a bar, it is fine. Do it in a bar. The girl can always walk out and she is also surrounded by people so will feel safer
In my dreams, I want the world to burn properly.
You strike me as a fairly forthright and confident woman (tho of course your real persona may be very different). I can't imagine you being too scared to walk or jog around Hampstead (admittedly a pretty safe place) at 10pm or even 1am?
But are you happy to do that? Genuine question
If I had to choose a new country to visit right now, Azerbaijan would be right up there, as it is so unusual, peculiar, exotic
Or anything I've said, ever.
The vast bulk of the British electorate have got far more sense than to watch the daily ups and downs. If in 2023/4, this government has been seen to do a good job, they will get another term. If not, they GBP will look at the alternative and see if they can be trusted.
We sit here like pigeons on Nelson's column, convinced that people are interested in us, rather than the statue we sit upon.
But where's the fun in acknowledging that?
1. A lot of Northern and Midland England, in particular, showing big increases in COVID rates off average baselines.
2. It's not the usual suspects - most of the core Northern and Midland cities, plus early Delta wave places like Blackburn, Bolton and Dewsbury are now quite obvious cold spots (very obvious when the HMG map is zoomed in to show local rates). Southern cities outside London, a less obvious distinction.
3. Possible reasons for cities doing OK, population denominators too high in student areas out of term time, students not yet back long enough for the exponent to really kick in, students most recently vaccinated cohort with best current immunity, lower numbers of kids / parents overall in these areas.
4. My impression is that low rates spread a bit from the city centres into more mixed city communities, so maybe it is herd immunity as well.
5. The cities could, of course, just follow suit and get high rates in the next couple of weeks, especially if students are vulnerable.
6. Demograhically, Malmesbury's 10-15 age group increase is starting to slow, but 5-9s could catch up and make the next increase pulse (Hospitalisations then go off how that spreads through parents into the community).
7. And the weather has dropped well below 18C and is set to stay down for a while - but does a child's indoor/ outdoor / contact / ventilation behaviour vary less than an adult's
There is potential for another big increase in cases and hospitalisations through October, though I think it will be running out of people to infect after that and half term / early November could see a very big drop and Christmas approaching on a much lower baseline.
Ok I get that you can't understand it about Johnson, or maybe Corbyn, or Trump even... but cast your mind back 80 or 90 years.
Dislike most certainly, and Trump and Corbyn top my list but to be honest believe it or not I just cannot hate
And he'd try to re-negotiate every contract. Then not honour it.
Had an interesting "negotiation", with a former Greco-Roman wrestling champion. He would politely (at first at least) listen to my case as to why we should make a change to their contract, say "No - next...." and wait for me to make the case on the next point with an identical outcome....
I reckon cases will bump up and down at much the same numbers that we have had for the last 2 months for another few months yet.
Jeremy Corbyn: Keir Starmer wants to prop up the wealthy and the powerful
Labour membership and trade unions are under attack because they want social change
One reason I dislike Trump so much is precisely because he stirs up my emotions so much more than any other politician, even those I like or dislike.
But you said "I can't understand how someone can have such a visceral hatred of a politician" Not specifically Johnson but 'a politician'.
I inferred from that that you could think of no politician deserving of hate. Hitler was a politician. I rest my case.
I am arguing with @RobD and @kle4 for the sake of a bit of challenge and discussion really. Sorry guys!
I agree, hate is not the answer. Intense dislike, distrust, distaste and probably a few other dis-es is what I feel for these people. Not hate - hate breeds hate.
https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/2021/09/26/labour-is-no-longer-a-safe-space-for-black-members/
A prenylated dsRNA sensor protects against severe COVID-19
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj3624
Its incidence has an interesting geographic variability in humans (and it’s completely absent in horseshoe bats).