Let’s talk about clouds – politicalbetting.com

solarflare said:

RobD said:

Stuartinromford said:

RobD said:

Mexicanpete said:

...

williamglenn said:

Denmark in crisis mode after realising Trump is serious about Greenland

https://www.ft.com/content/ace02a6f-3307-43f8-aac3-16b6646b60f6

That is your interpretation and not representative of the behind the paywall article.

I think you might be a little too high on Trump's supply.

It’s an accurate description.

The Danes are now in crisis mode,” said one person briefed on the call. Another said: “The Danes are utterly freaked out by this.” A former Danish official added: “It was a very tough conversation. He threatened specific measures against Denmark such as targeted tariffs.”

When can we start photoshopping JD the VP into the "are we the baddies?" meme?

They are going to make an offer the Danes can’t refuse.

Between Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal it's getting to be a bit insulting Trump hasn't made any overtures to subsume us yet.

spudgfsh said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Essexit said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Andy_JS said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Hurrah, another country taking back control and getting rid of their unelected rulers.

Belize replaces British monarch on bank notes with ‘national heroes’

John Briceño, the prime minister, said Belize “quite likely” to be the next state to become a republic

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/belize-replaces-british-monarch-on-bank-notes-with-national-heroes-s6fjf900b

Whenever politicians do this it's usually an attempt to shore up their own declining support.

Nah, the Royals are rather unpopular.

The most recent royal visit to Belize was in 2022 when the Prince and Princess of Wales, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, had to drop one of their engagements in the country in response to a protest.

There are protests against royals in the UK too, but by no stretch of the imagination are they unpopular here. This is the same kind of logic that took a few thousand people screaming Corbyn's name as evidence he'd be the next PM.

Support for a republic increased by 25% recently.

https://www1.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2024/09/01/support-for-an-elected-head-of-state-up-by-a-quarter-since-charles-became-king/

The thing is, if you replace the monarchy with a presidency I'd not want one like the US with a political president. I'd want one doing a similar job in an apolitical position. at that point it's simpler to keep the status quo

rcs1000 said:

Nigelb said:

Tulsi Gabbard growing less likely to be confirmed.
I'd forgotten this one.

As we remember Japan’s aggression in the Pacific, we need to ask ourselves this question: is the remilitarization of Japan, which is presently underway, truly a good idea? We need to be careful that shortsighted, self-serving leaders do not end up bringing us again face-to-face with a remilitarized Japan. #PearlHarbor82..
https://x.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1732690475482755422

You know, I can think of positive things to say about almost every human being: yes, even Trump, @kle4 and RFK Jr.

Tulsi Gabbard, though, I'm really struggling. Can anyone think of a single positive characteristic?

Essexit said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Andy_JS said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Hurrah, another country taking back control and getting rid of their unelected rulers.

Belize replaces British monarch on bank notes with ‘national heroes’

John Briceño, the prime minister, said Belize “quite likely” to be the next state to become a republic

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/belize-replaces-british-monarch-on-bank-notes-with-national-heroes-s6fjf900b

Whenever politicians do this it's usually an attempt to shore up their own declining support.

Nah, the Royals are rather unpopular.

The most recent royal visit to Belize was in 2022 when the Prince and Princess of Wales, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, had to drop one of their engagements in the country in response to a protest.

There are protests against royals in the UK too, but by no stretch of the imagination are they unpopular here. This is the same kind of logic that took a few thousand people screaming Corbyn's name as evidence he'd be the next PM.

ohnotnow said:

rcs1000 said:

Nigelb said:

Tulsi Gabbard growing less likely to be confirmed.
I'd forgotten this one.

As we remember Japan’s aggression in the Pacific, we need to ask ourselves this question: is the remilitarization of Japan, which is presently underway, truly a good idea? We need to be careful that shortsighted, self-serving leaders do not end up bringing us again face-to-face with a remilitarized Japan. #PearlHarbor82..
https://x.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1732690475482755422

You know, I can think of positive things to say about almost every human being: yes, even Trump, @kle4 and RFK Jr.

Tulsi Gabbard, though, I'm really struggling. Can anyone think of a single positive characteristic?

'Somewhat interesting name'?

Sunil_Prasannan said:

SandyRentool said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

HYUFD said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

HYUFD said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Hurrah, another country taking back control and getting rid of their unelected rulers.

Belize replaces British monarch on bank notes with ‘national heroes’

John Briceño, the prime minister, said Belize “quite likely” to be the next state to become a republic

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/belize-replaces-british-monarch-on-bank-notes-with-national-heroes-s6fjf900b

Hardly, they would just be getting more influence from Trump, China or in their case Lord Ashcroft.

Though they will be staying in the Commonwealth either way

It's OK, let them go. Most people in Belize see Spanish as their first language (57%), as opposed to the King's (just 6%), or even the local English Creole (37%).

Belize has been independent since 1981, they still chose to keep the monarch as their head of state

I haven't included them in my (hypothetical) Anglospheric Federation.

8 see you've survived your trip to Ashington!

Yes, and that morning I even did the York avoider (Holgate Jn to Skelton Jn) courtesy of the 1045 Lumo train ex-Kings Cross!

viewcode said:

rcs1000 said:

You know, it's one thing offering a fair price and having a negotiation with Denmark over Greenland (assuming the Greenlanders agree).

It's another thing entirely when you threaten retaliatory tariffs if fellow NATO member Denmark does not accede to your request.

Whilst I absolutely adore you and all your works, particularly those that involve publishing articles, isn't it a little late to notice that Trump is a nasty c[not that word -Ed]? It's not like he hid it.

malcolmg said:

Taz said:

This labour MP, of the new intake, seems to be a bright spark and should get ministerial office sooner rather than later.

https://x.com/dan4barnet/status/1882774413977755680?s=61

My back garden fence blown down, been severe winds all day and still not great. Not going out to check how bad it is , can wait till tomorrow.

HYUFD said:

'Children of US soldiers are exempt from VAT on private school fees in the UK while British troops must pay full price, The Telegraph can reveal'

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/labour-exempts-america-soldiers-children-private-school-vat/#:~:text=Following queries from a number,services' for these purposes.”

Nigelb said:

HYUFD said:

'Children of US soldiers are exempt from VAT on private school fees in the UK while British troops must pay full price, The Telegraph can reveal'

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/tax/labour-exempts-america-soldiers-children-private-school-vat/#:~:text=Following queries from a number,services' for these purposes.”

And to think people denied the existence of exorbitant privilege.

Carnyx said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

SandyRentool said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

HYUFD said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

HYUFD said:

TheScreamingEagles said:

Hurrah, another country taking back control and getting rid of their unelected rulers.

Belize replaces British monarch on bank notes with ‘national heroes’

John Briceño, the prime minister, said Belize “quite likely” to be the next state to become a republic

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/belize-replaces-british-monarch-on-bank-notes-with-national-heroes-s6fjf900b

Hardly, they would just be getting more influence from Trump, China or in their case Lord Ashcroft.

Though they will be staying in the Commonwealth either way

It's OK, let them go. Most people in Belize see Spanish as their first language (57%), as opposed to the King's (just 6%), or even the local English Creole (37%).

Belize has been independent since 1981, they still chose to keep the monarch as their head of state

I haven't included them in my (hypothetical) Anglospheric Federation.

8 see you've survived your trip to Ashington!

Yes, and that morning I even did the York avoider (Holgate Jn to Skelton Jn) courtesy of the 1045 Lumo train ex-Kings Cross!

Brave of you. If the weather had swerved south, you might still be in Newcastle till tomorrow afternoon. And then not even gone to KX but had to go by Bedford, perhaps by bus from Peterboro, seeing as KX is closed this weekend.

#intrepidexplorer#

algarkirk said:

Mexicanpete said:

RobD said:

Mexicanpete said:

...

williamglenn said:

Denmark in crisis mode after realising Trump is serious about Greenland

https://www.ft.com/content/ace02a6f-3307-43f8-aac3-16b6646b60f6

That is your interpretation and not representative of the behind the paywall article.

I think you might be a little too high on Trump's supply.

It’s an accurate description.

The Danes are now in crisis mode,” said one person briefed on the call. Another said: “The Danes are utterly freaked out by this.” A former Danish official added: “It was a very tough conversation. He threatened specific measures against Denmark such as targeted tariffs.”

Aren't Denmark in the EU?

Of course, and this is potentially a very interesting test of what the EU means. As an EU member, Denmark can't (SFAICS) decide its own trade/tariff policy towards USA, that being a wholly EU competence. But the USA doesn't have to do the reverse. Or does it? So if the USA picks on Denmark, does the EU show united solidarity in support?

Cookie said:

I always like Chinese New Year. It feels a very good time for New Year - there is an optimism engendered by returning sunlight which just isn't there on Jan 1st.

Foss said:

algarkirk said:

Mexicanpete said:

RobD said:

Mexicanpete said:

...

williamglenn said:

Denmark in crisis mode after realising Trump is serious about Greenland

https://www.ft.com/content/ace02a6f-3307-43f8-aac3-16b6646b60f6

That is your interpretation and not representative of the behind the paywall article.

I think you might be a little too high on Trump's supply.

It’s an accurate description.

The Danes are now in crisis mode,” said one person briefed on the call. Another said: “The Danes are utterly freaked out by this.” A former Danish official added: “It was a very tough conversation. He threatened specific measures against Denmark such as targeted tariffs.”

Aren't Denmark in the EU?

Of course, and this is potentially a very interesting test of what the EU means. As an EU member, Denmark can't (SFAICS) decide its own trade/tariff policy towards USA, that being a wholly EU competence. But the USA doesn't have to do the reverse. Or does it? So if the USA picks on Denmark, does the EU show united solidarity in support?

Biden's chip restrictions earlier this month have already split the EU into trade 'haves' and 'have nots'.

DavidL said:

pigeon said:

malcolmg said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Southport killer was under NHS mental health care for years, hospital reveals
Disclosure will raise questions on what service knew about Axel Rudakubana’s state of mind before he carried out the atrocity
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/24/southport-killer-nhs-mental-health-axel-rudakubana/ (£££)

Is there a market on when Rudakubana is transferred to Ashworth or Rampton?

And is this another failure of Care in the Community which saw most psychiatric hospitals sold off for luxury flats? Might Rudakubana have been sectioned when turned down by Prevent as not a terrorist?

NHS mental health care amounts to almost nothing.

That's an exaggeration but mental health does suffer from the same care lottery issue as the rest of the health service. Some conditions are well dealt with, in other areas the system is buckling and there are long waiting lists, and in still more (dentistry being an obvious example) it has virtually ceased to exist.

The root cause of the problem is, of course, the weight of demand running so far ahead of the resources available. Half the population has no money left to give in tax to plug the holes and the other half resents being asked for it. Folk, unsurprisingly, want 1,001 different benefits from the state but everyone thinks it should be someone else's job to pay for them.

This means that Government is mostly unable or unwilling either to remove benefits and services, or to fund them adequately. Instead of getting all of the things we want done well, or at least some done well and others not done at all, we therefore get a whole lot of stuff done on the cheap and, therefore, badly.

We know the story well. Pretty well everything done by Government, save perhaps for the state pension with the infamous triple lock, is crap. Enormous waits for elective surgery. Leaky, ancient, hazardous schools and hospitals, kept limping on rather than being replaced. Roads full of potholes. Bins collected once every three weeks. Poorly funded councils pissing most of their money up the wall on social care services and special needs kids (and still failing to meet demand) whilst everything from museums to libraries to leisure centres get shut down or palmed off to community groups. Barely functional policing, courts that take years to deliver justice, dilapidated and brutal jails. And all we're getting from Labour is, basically, just about enough extra money to try to stop the hospitals from totally collapsing, whilst most other areas are subject to deliberate procrastination (e.g. social care) or yet more austerity.

Ultimately you get what you pay for. But nobody wants to pay for stuff. So on we all go, circling the plughole.

I'm frankly not persuaded that we are getting what we pay for. That is really the problem. The public sector seems to want ever more resource to provide an ever poorer service.

Foxy said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

.

williamglenn said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

Foss said:

GIN1138 said:

On topic, I think a Farage/REF implosion is more likely than not before 2029.

Perhaps, but unfortunately not today.

Find Out Now voting intention:
🟦 Reform UK: 26% (+1)
🔵 Conservatives: 23% (-2)
🔴 Labour: 22% (-2)
🟠 Lib Dems: 12% (-)
🟢 Greens: 10% (-)

Changes from 15th January
[Find Out Now, 22nd January, N=2,380]

Just rejoice at that news.

I wonder if we'll get crossover between the Lib Dems and Labour at some point this year. Third could be the best Labour can hope for.

I have found Labour's polling surprisingly sticky. It has been tracking inexorably down, but not in the same way as Starmer's approval rating. I wouldn't know why that would be. Could be something in the re-allocation of don't knows? I know our own view is skewed by our media diet, and I am a right wing media consumer, but I don't think there's much of a Guardian/Mirror/The Rest is Politics alternative narrative bubble where everyone thinks it's going brilliantly well.

I am expecting Labour's losses to continue, and for them to fall behind Reform and the Tories in most polls. I think Ref, Cons, Lab in that order will solidify.

I was worried (politically) about the forthcoming Crime and Justice bill having some good popular measures in it. But judging from the recent bollocks about kitchen knives from Amazon, it'll just be more snooping on the law-abiding. It's just not in Labour to turn this around - their instincts oppose everything that they need to do.

Yes, I agree that Labour's vote share is holding up quite well. Also the big shift is to DK/WNV. I also think this is mostly down to Starmer and Reeves having to managed after the Tory scorched earth policy of the last few years, coupled with major negative charisma. These people are recoverable, as are some who have gone to Green and even Reform.

The obvious thing for Labour is for Starmer to retire in 2028, being replaced by a new more charismatic leader, giveaway budget in October 28 and a May election in 2029.

Carnyx said:

malcolmg said:

Taz said:

This labour MP, of the new intake, seems to be a bright spark and should get ministerial office sooner rather than later.

https://x.com/dan4barnet/status/1882774413977755680?s=61

My back garden fence blown down, been severe winds all day and still not great. Not going out to check how bad it is , can wait till tomorrow.

We were lucky - at least where we were: very localised, I'm sure. It was just about OK to go out and look before dusk.

One fence panel blown out but it was gash and due for replacement anyway. Though a neighbour had a ridge tile or two pop out, and they bounced down in the re-entrant angle with an extension, smashing more en route.

solarflare said:

RobD said:

Stuartinromford said:

RobD said:

Mexicanpete said:

...

williamglenn said:

Denmark in crisis mode after realising Trump is serious about Greenland

https://www.ft.com/content/ace02a6f-3307-43f8-aac3-16b6646b60f6

That is your interpretation and not representative of the behind the paywall article.

I think you might be a little too high on Trump's supply.

It’s an accurate description.

The Danes are now in crisis mode,” said one person briefed on the call. Another said: “The Danes are utterly freaked out by this.” A former Danish official added: “It was a very tough conversation. He threatened specific measures against Denmark such as targeted tariffs.”

When can we start photoshopping JD the VP into the "are we the baddies?" meme?

They are going to make an offer the Danes can’t refuse.

Between Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal it's getting to be a bit insulting Trump hasn't made any overtures to subsume us yet.

Leon said:

Foxy said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

.

williamglenn said:

Luckyguy1983 said:

Foss said:

GIN1138 said:

On topic, I think a Farage/REF implosion is more likely than not before 2029.

Perhaps, but unfortunately not today.

Find Out Now voting intention:
🟦 Reform UK: 26% (+1)
🔵 Conservatives: 23% (-2)
🔴 Labour: 22% (-2)
🟠 Lib Dems: 12% (-)
🟢 Greens: 10% (-)

Changes from 15th January
[Find Out Now, 22nd January, N=2,380]

Just rejoice at that news.

I wonder if we'll get crossover between the Lib Dems and Labour at some point this year. Third could be the best Labour can hope for.

I have found Labour's polling surprisingly sticky. It has been tracking inexorably down, but not in the same way as Starmer's approval rating. I wouldn't know why that would be. Could be something in the re-allocation of don't knows? I know our own view is skewed by our media diet, and I am a right wing media consumer, but I don't think there's much of a Guardian/Mirror/The Rest is Politics alternative narrative bubble where everyone thinks it's going brilliantly well.

I am expecting Labour's losses to continue, and for them to fall behind Reform and the Tories in most polls. I think Ref, Cons, Lab in that order will solidify.

I was worried (politically) about the forthcoming Crime and Justice bill having some good popular measures in it. But judging from the recent bollocks about kitchen knives from Amazon, it'll just be more snooping on the law-abiding. It's just not in Labour to turn this around - their instincts oppose everything that they need to do.

Yes, I agree that Labour's vote share is holding up quite well. Also the big shift is to DK/WNV. I also think this is mostly down to Starmer and Reeves having to managed after the Tory scorched earth policy of the last few years, coupled with major negative charisma. These people are recoverable, as are some who have gone to Green and even Reform.

The obvious thing for Labour is for Starmer to retire in 2028, being replaced by a new more charismatic leader, giveaway budget in October 28 and a May election in 2029.

“Labour’s vote share is holding up quite well”

NARRATOR: Labour are down to 22%

rottenborough said:

Jeez. Is satire now finally buried. You could not make this up!!!



George Mann
@sgfmann
·
5m
The Times: Reeves - Britain needs a dose of Trump positivity #TomorrowsPapersToday

Carnyx said:

Theuniondivvie said:

Carnyx said:

For those interested ...

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24884131.polling-experts-new-scottish-council-by-elections-tell-us/?ref=eb&nid=1948&block=article_block_a&u=f140ec39d500193051a33e140c12bd95&date=240125

'POLLING experts have given their verdict on the state of Scottish politics after a series of by-elections provided "real data" on what voters are thinking.

The numbers from the votes confirm what the polls are showing: The SNP are rising, Labour are slipping, and Reform UK are an electoral force north of the Border, experts told the National.'

My main assumption is that the SCons must be absolutely bricking it. There must be more defections in the pipeline.

For some reason I'm reminded of my first rabbit dissection at school, and seeing all the turds neatly arrayed in the bowel, ready to pop out. It may have been the rabbit's intended breakfast (they recycle their microbially digested cellulose that way), but fine fare for a Scon breakfast it isn't. Yet that is what is on the menu.

Leon said:

I’ve woken up in the middle of the tigerish Burmese night to the most hilarious thread in PB history

Trump is actually seizing Greenland and Denmark is chucking a mental

Reform are leading in the polls and Labour are down to 22%, six months after a landslide win (“vote share holding up quite well” - @Foxy)

And

The next Chancellor of Germany is calling time on Schengen

Did I miss anything?

Leon said:

Foss said:

GIN1138 said:

On topic, I think a Farage/REF implosion is more likely than not before 2029.

Perhaps, but unfortunately not today.

Find Out Now voting intention:
🟦 Reform UK: 26% (+1)
🔵 Conservatives: 23% (-2)
🔴 Labour: 22% (-2)
🟠 Lib Dems: 12% (-)
🟢 Greens: 10% (-)

Changes from 15th January
[Find Out Now, 22nd January, N=2,380]

I agree with @Big_G_NorthWales - that is objectively hilarious. lol at Labour - 22%!!

MarqueeMark said:

solarflare said:

RobD said:

Stuartinromford said:

RobD said:

Mexicanpete said:

...

williamglenn said:

Denmark in crisis mode after realising Trump is serious about Greenland

https://www.ft.com/content/ace02a6f-3307-43f8-aac3-16b6646b60f6

That is your interpretation and not representative of the behind the paywall article.

I think you might be a little too high on Trump's supply.

It’s an accurate description.

The Danes are now in crisis mode,” said one person briefed on the call. Another said: “The Danes are utterly freaked out by this.” A former Danish official added: “It was a very tough conversation. He threatened specific measures against Denmark such as targeted tariffs.”

When can we start photoshopping JD the VP into the "are we the baddies?" meme?

They are going to make an offer the Danes can’t refuse.

Between Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal it's getting to be a bit insulting Trump hasn't made any overtures to subsume us yet.

We're more trouble than we're worth.

Ask the EU.

rottenborough said:

The main bbc news is delayed 30mins because of some bollocks called 'traitors'?

Leon said:

Alphabet_Soup said:

Leon said:

I’ve woken up in the middle of the tigerish Burmese night to the most hilarious thread in PB history

Trump is actually seizing Greenland and Denmark is chucking a mental

Reform are leading in the polls and Labour are down to 22%, six months after a landslide win (“vote share holding up quite well” - @Foxy)

And

The next Chancellor of Germany is calling time on Schengen

Did I miss anything?

Go back to sleep. You'll be fine in the morning.

Something to calm you all down. Rural Burma today

rottenborough said:

The White House
@WhiteHouse
·
21m
President Trump Delivers More in 100 Hours Than Any President in 100 Days 🇺🇸

https://x.com/WhiteHouse

glw said:

Scott_xP said:

‪@techmeme.com‬

In email to X staff, Musk says "user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and we're barely breaking even"; sources: banks plan to sell their debt in X (Wall Street Journal)

https://bsky.app/profile/techmeme.com/post/3lgjbldyxgo2h

That can't be correct as Elon fans in their black shorts keep saying that Twitter is doing really well.

Leon said:

I imagine a huge proportion of Novo Noridsk’s profits - and thus a large proportion of Denmark’s GDP - comes from the USA

So a threatened Trump tariff could be very serious for them. Hence their “crisis” mode, presumably

Also the idea that “Denmark doesn’t care about Greenland” is total bollocks which could only be spoken by someone who has been to neither country

Denmark’s continued ownership of Greenland and the Faroes is intimately bound up with their self image as this hardy northern nation with a vast wilderness to protect and exploit. It really matters to them. Last vestige of the Viking past

Without it they become a flat suburb of Hamburg with Lego and some mossy food on tasting menus

Leon said:

I imagine a huge proportion of Novo Noridsk’s profits - and thus a large proportion of Denmark’s GDP - comes from the USA

So a threatened Trump tariff could be very serious for them. Hence their “crisis” mode, presumably

Also the idea that “Denmark doesn’t care about Greenland” is total bollocks which could only be spoken by someone who has been to neither country

Denmark’s continued ownership of Greenland and the Faroes is intimately bound up with their self image as this hardy northern nation with a vast wilderness to protect and exploit. It really matters to them. Last vestige of the Viking past

Without it they become a flat suburb of Hamburg with Lego and some mossy food on tasting menus

glw said:

Scott_xP said:

‪@techmeme.com‬

In email to X staff, Musk says "user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and we're barely breaking even"; sources: banks plan to sell their debt in X (Wall Street Journal)

https://bsky.app/profile/techmeme.com/post/3lgjbldyxgo2h

That can't be correct as Elon fans in their black shorts keep saying that Twitter is doing really well.

pigeon said:

malcolmg said:

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Southport killer was under NHS mental health care for years, hospital reveals
Disclosure will raise questions on what service knew about Axel Rudakubana’s state of mind before he carried out the atrocity
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/24/southport-killer-nhs-mental-health-axel-rudakubana/ (£££)

Is there a market on when Rudakubana is transferred to Ashworth or Rampton?

And is this another failure of Care in the Community which saw most psychiatric hospitals sold off for luxury flats? Might Rudakubana have been sectioned when turned down by Prevent as not a terrorist?

NHS mental health care amounts to almost nothing.

That's an exaggeration but mental health does suffer from the same care lottery issue as the rest of the health service. Some conditions are well dealt with, in other areas the system is buckling and there are long waiting lists, and in still more (dentistry being an obvious example) it has virtually ceased to exist.

The root cause of the problem is, of course, the weight of demand running so far ahead of the resources available. Half the population has no money left to give in tax to plug the holes and the other half resents being asked for it. Folk, unsurprisingly, want 1,001 different benefits from the state but everyone thinks it should be someone else's job to pay for them.

This means that Government is mostly unable or unwilling either to remove benefits and services, or to fund them adequately. Instead of getting all of the things we want done well, or at least some done well and others not done at all, we therefore get a whole lot of stuff done on the cheap and, therefore, badly.

We know the story well. Pretty well everything done by Government, save perhaps for the state pension with the infamous triple lock, is crap. Enormous waits for elective surgery. Leaky, ancient, hazardous schools and hospitals, kept limping on rather than being replaced. Roads full of potholes. Bins collected once every three weeks. Poorly funded councils pissing most of their money up the wall on social care services and special needs kids (and still failing to meet demand) whilst everything from museums to libraries to leisure centres get shut down or palmed off to community groups. Barely functional policing, courts that take years to deliver justice, dilapidated and brutal jails. And all we're getting from Labour is, basically, just about enough extra money to try to stop the hospitals from totally collapsing, whilst most other areas are subject to deliberate procrastination (e.g. social care) or yet more austerity.

Ultimately you get what you pay for. But nobody wants to pay for stuff. So on we all go, circling the plughole.

rottenborough said:

glw said:

Scott_xP said:

‪@techmeme.com‬

In email to X staff, Musk says "user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and we're barely breaking even"; sources: banks plan to sell their debt in X (Wall Street Journal)

https://bsky.app/profile/techmeme.com/post/3lgjbldyxgo2h

That can't be correct as Elon fans in their black shorts keep saying that Twitter is doing really well.

Has Musk only just noticed all his X numbers are going to shit?

Tesla also in shit.

Maybe he should get back to his day job(s) and stop trying to overthrow european governments?

Andy_JS said:

Scott_xP said:

‪@techmeme.com‬

In email to X staff, Musk says "user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and we're barely breaking even"; sources: banks plan to sell their debt in X (Wall Street Journal)

https://bsky.app/profile/techmeme.com/post/3lgjbldyxgo2h

At least he's honest about the situation. Doesn't try to pretend things are okay when they aren't.

Sunil_Prasannan said:

Alphabet_Soup said:

williamglenn said:

Denmark in crisis mode after realising Trump is serious about Greenland

https://www.ft.com/content/ace02a6f-3307-43f8-aac3-16b6646b60f6

The US can always pay them to go away.

In 1917, our Septic friends purchased the western half of the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million (say $600 million in today's money). These are the group now known as the US Virgin Islands.

geoffw said:

Leon said:

Alphabet_Soup said:

Leon said:

I’ve woken up in the middle of the tigerish Burmese night to the most hilarious thread in PB history

Trump is actually seizing Greenland and Denmark is chucking a mental

Reform are leading in the polls and Labour are down to 22%, six months after a landslide win (“vote share holding up quite well” - @Foxy)

And

The next Chancellor of Germany is calling time on Schengen

Did I miss anything?

Go back to sleep. You'll be fine in the morning.

Something to calm you all down. Rural Burma today

I feel an affinity, my grandmother was born in Rangoon, British East India.

Leon said:

rottenborough said:

glw said:

Scott_xP said:

‪@techmeme.com‬

In email to X staff, Musk says "user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and we're barely breaking even"; sources: banks plan to sell their debt in X (Wall Street Journal)

https://bsky.app/profile/techmeme.com/post/3lgjbldyxgo2h

That can't be correct as Elon fans in their black shorts keep saying that Twitter is doing really well.

Has Musk only just noticed all his X numbers are going to shit?

Tesla also in shit.

Maybe he should get back to his day job(s) and stop trying to overthrow european governments?

Yes. Musk has to decide whether he wants X as a personal bully pulpit, or as a successful growing social medium

Either is a legit aspiration, but he can’t have both

Leon said:

TimS said:

HYUFD said:

Leon said:

I imagine a huge proportion of Novo Noridsk’s profits - and thus a large proportion of Denmark’s GDP - comes from the USA

So a threatened Trump tariff could be very serious for them. Hence their “crisis” mode, presumably

Also the idea that “Denmark doesn’t care about Greenland” is total bollocks which could only be spoken by someone who has been to neither country

Denmark’s continued ownership of Greenland and the Faroes is intimately bound up with their self image as this hardy northern nation with a vast wilderness to protect and exploit. It really matters to them. Last vestige of the Viking past

Without it they become a flat suburb of Hamburg with Lego and some mossy food on tasting menus

Mind you if Trump delivers on his proposed tariffs on the EU (including Denmark of course), China, Mexico and Canada they will all impose tariffs on US imports as well

I’m pretty sure all of Novo’s Ozempic doses for the North American market will already be manufactured there, probably including the API. Lego too.

That’s worse as it means Trump can seize their factories. I wish I was joking

DecrepiterJohnL said:

Leon said:

Andy_JS said:

Scott_xP said:

‪@techmeme.com‬

In email to X staff, Musk says "user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and we're barely breaking even"; sources: banks plan to sell their debt in X (Wall Street Journal)

https://bsky.app/profile/techmeme.com/post/3lgjbldyxgo2h

At least he's honest about the situation. Doesn't try to pretend things are okay when they aren't.

He is. But has he got the honesty and self-awareness to realise that at least half the problems are of his own making, with various innovations that have made TwiX WORSE

The question is whether Elon's X woes are just face-saving cover for returning to the day job following reports he is being frozen out of the White House by the President's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, as reported earlier in this thread.

Alphabet_Soup said:

Sunil_Prasannan said:

geoffw said:

Leon said:

Alphabet_Soup said:

Leon said:

I’ve woken up in the middle of the tigerish Burmese night to the most hilarious thread in PB history

Trump is actually seizing Greenland and Denmark is chucking a mental

Reform are leading in the polls and Labour are down to 22%, six months after a landslide win (“vote share holding up quite well” - @Foxy)

And

The next Chancellor of Germany is calling time on Schengen

Did I miss anything?

Go back to sleep. You'll be fine in the morning.

Something to calm you all down. Rural Burma today

I feel an affinity, my grandmother was born in Rangoon, British East India.

British India.

We read Elephant Bill by JH Williams in 3A. Recommended.