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Marf delivers her take on the Trump/Putin phone call – politicalbetting.com

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  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,038
    ydoethur said:

    I don't think they look ugly, actually. Certainly not compared to the prototype new Jag.

    The big problem is they've been bought by rather too many people who drive like utter bellends, and that seems unlikely to change.
    TBF I haven't particularly noticed Tesla cars being driven badly that much: the crown for that still goes to Audi and BMW.

    Buying a new car is the second-most expensive thing most of us will buy, after a house. And you have far more choice with a car than you do with a house, as your choice is much less price and geographically limited. Therefore the car you buy reflects an image of yourself, and this is why so many Tesla drivers are rather (ahem) defensive over their purchase now. Or even rabidly still defending Tesla and Musk.

    And no, you cannot really separate Musk and Tesla.

    So if you drive a Tesla, you're an utter wanker. ;)
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,215
    boulay said:

    Their cars are exceptionally ugly which doesn’t help. Teslas look shit - apparently because it’s about eking out every bit of efficiency - but I’m sure a few fewer miles per charge for a better looking car isn’t the worst idea.
    Looks are 100% subjective though. I think the Model S looks fine and hasn't dated too much despite its immense age. The rest of the range is amorphously bland and clearly way behind the European and Asian competition.

    When manufacturers focus group cars they find people will prefer designs that are most like ones with which they are already familiar. Hence endless recycling of design themes with ID.Buzz, Renault 5, 12cilindri, etc.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,359

    TBF I haven't particularly noticed Tesla cars being driven badly that much: the crown for that still goes to Audi and BMW.

    Buying a new car is the second-most expensive thing most of us will buy, after a house. And you have far more choice with a car than you do with a house, as your choice is much less price and geographically limited. Therefore the car you buy reflects an image of yourself, and this is why so many Tesla drivers are rather (ahem) defensive over their purchase now. Or even rabidly still defending Tesla and Musk.

    And no, you cannot really separate Musk and Tesla.

    So if you drive a Tesla, you're an utter wanker. ;)
    @i_iratus

    All those cars being damaged and his company losing value. Just so much money lost, it must be devastating.

    What is it that people say when an unthinkable tragedy happens?

    Oh yes.

    “Thoughts and prayers”
  • Scott_xP said:

    @i_iratus

    All those cars being damaged and his company losing value. Just so much money lost, it must be devastating.

    What is it that people say when an unthinkable tragedy happens?

    Oh yes.

    “Thoughts and prayers”
    Stop quoting Americans.

    This is the UK so we can say something different.

    Oh dear, how sad, nevermind.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 72,997

    Stop quoting Americans.

    This is the UK so we can say something different.

    Oh dear, how sad, nevermind.
    As another Tesla goes up either through arson or shoddy workmanship:

    'It ain't half hot, Mum.'
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 618
    edited March 20

    You gotta laugh.

    Lord Glasman was the ONLY british politician invited to be seated at the Trump inauguration fest and yet he has just been on Newsnight completely slagging off Trumpski policy - such as it is - over Ukraine and praising Starmer's leadership.

    Interesting character and background.

    Labour seem to have too many intellectuals which leads to internal stress within the Party. The Conservatives seem the opposite, denuded of serious thinkers to be replaced by the cult of the Market. It's a poor collection if IDS is the only one who is serious not just about policy but how to apply those policies.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 6,027
    Dura_Ace said:

    Looks are 100% subjective though. I think the Model S looks fine and hasn't dated too much despite its immense age. The rest of the range is amorphously bland and clearly way behind the European and Asian competition.

    When manufacturers focus group cars they find people will prefer designs that are most like ones with which they are already familiar. Hence endless recycling of design themes with ID.Buzz, Renault 5, 12cilindri, etc.
    Fair point, but aren’t designs that get recycled being recycled because they were designs that looked good in one way or another, hence they sold and hence people see and like them.

    The Renault 5 update is “cute” as well as nostalgic, the 12 cilindri reminds people of beautiful past front engined Ferraris but the lines create a strange stirring in the pants. They are all good designs whereas the teslas look like they’ve been designed by engineers not artists.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,268

    Israel didn't eliminate Palestine, Egypt and Jordan did when they invaded and annexed it in 1948. That's why there's not been a Palestinian state, not Israel's actions.

    "International law" is a bunch of worthless piss.

    Israeli Arabs are citizens who get to vote democratically, unlike in the rest of the region.
    Egypt and Jordan’s actions in 1948 do not justify Israel’s actions today, 77 years later. In 1948, Crimea was part of Russia, but that doesn’t justify Russia’s annexation of the territory from Ukraine in 2014.

    If international law is a bunch of worthless piss, then do you oppose the ICC’s arrest warrants for Putin and other Russians? Do you know who else thinks that international law is a bunch of worthless piss? Putin… and Trump. We should oppose Trump’s threats to annex Greenland, we should oppose Russia’s annexation of parts of Ukraine, we should oppose Israel’s annexation of parts of Syria and Palestine.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,215
    boulay said:

    Fair point, but aren’t designs that get recycled being recycled because they were designs that looked good in one way or another, hence they sold and hence people see and like them.

    The Renault 5 update is “cute” as well as nostalgic, the 12 cilindri reminds people of beautiful past front engined Ferraris but the lines create a strange stirring in the pants. They are all good designs whereas the teslas look like they’ve been designed by engineers not artists.
    Holzhausen styled all of the Teslas and is definitely a designer. He did the new Beetle which was a packaging masterpiece, some absolute stinkers for GM and lots of Mazdas. This is why the S looks distinctly Mazda-esque.
  • JohnLilburneJohnLilburne Posts: 6,508
    Scott_xP said:

    @Osinttechnical

    Russia’s Engels Airbase, home to a significant portion of the Russian Air Force bomber fleet, suffered a massive explosion after a Ukrainian drone attack this morning.

    https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/1902575582501543943

    They need to launch a diversionary attack on Peterburg and go for Olenya. They apparently now have the range
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,268
    Pagan2 said:

    RFK jr is an idiot it is hardly news
    In previous years, he was an idiot on a limited scale. His idiocy now could lead to millions of deaths worldwide.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,689
    Dura_Ace said:

    Good for him. At least one European politician appreciates the need for strategic autonomy and will say so.

    The calculation is a little different for SKS as he has much more to lose in the shape of Trident. If the US were to withdraw support that would be an ego shattering cataclysm for the English psyche on the level of Italia '90 hence his current policy of unabashed tromboning.
    We should be planning how we might change that. If France, Israel and N Korea can manage an independent deterrent it ought not to be that hard.
    Might take a while though.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,919

    You're wrong, they are targeting Hamas.

    Even Hamas themselves have admitted these recent attacks have taken out some of their leaders, including their 'head of government'.

    Hamas leaders are quite legitimate targets, are they not? Yet you refuse to accept that even when spelt out in black and white.
    Their PM needs to keep the war going, to delay and distract from elections, an inquiry into the original security failure, and a stack of other political problems. Its target is almost immaterial.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,731

    Stop quoting Americans.

    This is the UK so we can say something different.

    Oh dear, how sad, nevermind.
    Disgraceful. Do it properly


  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,268
    IanB2 said:

    Their PM needs to keep the war going, to delay and distract from elections, an inquiry into the original security failure, and a stack of other political problems. Its target is almost immaterial.
    https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahus-testimony-in-graft-trial-canceled-for-the-day-amid-shock-gaza-offensive/
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,491
    Nigelb said:

    We’re beyond that, I think.
    Europe has a brief chance to get its act together on defence, and that requires an honest discussion. The fact that the US cannot, for the first time in our lifetimes, by considered a reliable ally isn’t something you can ignore.

    And it’s not as though they aren’t already aware of that.

    ‘There is no kill switch’—The F-35 'kill switch' rumor has been debunked.

    “After weeks of speculation, the Pentagon formally denies having the ability to remotely disable @LockheedMartin’s F-35 fighter jets.”

    https://x.com/thef35/status/1902117234039992683



    I believe the Mandy Rice Davies rule applies
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,354
    Nigelb said:

    Chair of the Danish parliament’s defence committee:

    I dont know if there is a kill switch in the F35’s or not [there isn’t]. We obviously can not take your word for it.

    As one of the decision makers behind Denmark’s purchase of F35’s, I regret it.

    The USA can certainly disable the planes by simple stopping the supply of spare parts. They want to strengthen Russia and weaken Europa and are showing that they are willing to do tremendous damage to peaceful and loyal allies like Canada just because they insist on existing as a country.

    I can easily imagine a situation where the USA will demand Greenland from Denmark and will threaten to deactivate our weapons and let Russia attack us when we refuse (which we will even in that situation).

    Therefore, buying American weapons is a security risk that we can not run. We will make enormous investments in air defence, fighter jets, artillery and other weapons in the coming years, and we must avoid American weapons if at all possible.

    I encourage our allies and friends to do the same.

    https://x.com/RasmusJarlov/status/1902389277423509877

    Are they calling it Europa now?
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 64,862
    scampi25 said:

    Some percentages from Election Maps UK

    Glen (Harborough) Council By-Election Result:

    🌳 CON: 79.8% (+22.8)
    🔶 LDM: 11.2% (-17.5)
    🌹 LAB: 7.6% (New)
    🔴 SDP: 1.4% (New)

    No GRN (-14.2) as previous.

    Conservative HOLD.


    Abbots Langley & Bedmond (Three Rivers) Council By-Election Result:

    🌳 CON: 40.0% (-0.5)
    🔶 LDM: 33.6% (-0.6)
    ➡️ RFM: 13.0% (New)
    🌍 GRN: 7.8% (-8.1)
    🌹 LAB: 5.5% (-3.8)

    Conservative GAIN from Liberal Democrat.
    Changes w/ 2024.

    Good morning

    Those figures on Three Rivers do not make sense but apparently these do

    https://x.com/MarxdeMorais/status/1902618742544097326?t=vL067QhqJdWOyLELcBPtNA&s=19
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,365
    Scott_xP said:

    SKS doing a photo op on a Trident sub right now
    "Our benefit cuts are paying for this."
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,219
    Pagan2 said:

    Yes you have training in deescalating a gang rape so they all go away embarressed.....sorry dont believe it
    You're saying Foxy is a Walter Mitty type? Makes sense
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,038
    Dura_Ace said:

    Looks are 100% subjective though. I think the Model S looks fine and hasn't dated too much despite its immense age. The rest of the range is amorphously bland and clearly way behind the European and Asian competition.

    When manufacturers focus group cars they find people will prefer designs that are most like ones with which they are already familiar. Hence endless recycling of design themes with ID.Buzz, Renault 5, 12cilindri, etc.
    It's not just familiarity with design; it's also engineering convergence. If you want to make an SUV that will be fuel efficient and carry the loads required, there are only so many practical shapes you can use. Likewise small cars, estate cars, etc, etc. The drag coefficient rules. Which is why so many cars look similar from the outside (especially compared to the 1970s...) but can be very different internally.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,491

    It's almost Trumpian in its denial of reality.

    "We are Labour. We don't do austerity. So whatever THIS is, it can't be austerity."
    There’s a great difference between Tory-austerity-bad and Labour-efficiency-good
  • But the "rota" evidence is being thoroughly debunked..while the appalling level of care provided by the unit itself is only starting to be revealed..as Dr Lee said if the unit had been a Canadian hospital it would have been shut down..🧐
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,491
    rcs1000 said:

    Why are they having by-elections on a Wednesday?
    To mess up your spreadsheet

  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 618

    Are they calling it Europa now?
    Danish for Europe.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,358

    NEW THREAD

  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,359

    Which is why so many cars look similar from the outside (especially compared to the 1970s...) but can be very different internally.

    A lot of them are the same inside too.

    SKF, the bearing manufacturer, had a division at one time called "car corners" where they made the entire wheel hub and suspension assembly for each corner of a car, for multiple brands
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,038
    Pagan2 said:

    This a problem as well with pb not only are most rich they also have little experience of the worse streets in town
    As a hospital doctor, I would imagine that the worst streets in town regularly come to his workplace. Which is why he would have such training, as it is far from unusual for doctors and nurses to get assaulted by patients.

    And what he said made sense. The aims are to:
    *) Minimise harm.
    *) maximising successful prosecution.

    In the scenario mentioned, you may not be able to stop the awful event alone, and going in with your fists is likely not to scare them off, but to make matters worse. What you would do depends on the situation, but calmly evaluating what is going on with those two aims in mind seems sensible. And then, of course, acting.
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 618

    "Our benefit cuts are paying for this."
    Always wonder about the phrase 'cuts'. If you have a trend line going up at 10%pa and you decide it has to be 5%, then there are 'cuts'. No one knows what the actual cash outcome will be until they see the changes in the rules applied - and then challenged in court.

    If you are on a short leash from the banks and the purchasers of your debt, then you have to be able to show believable plans. I'd call this the Truss Test.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,038

    But the "rota" evidence is being thoroughly debunked..while the appalling level of care provided by the unit itself is only starting to be revealed..as Dr Lee said if the unit had been a Canadian hospital it would have been shut down..🧐
    That email on the 22nd June sets my nose twitching. It seems a loose pattern was determined, and a 'cause' decided. After that, it came down to evidence that proved the cause, rather than looking for alternative causes.

    Something AIUI police detectives are trained against: they may decide they 'know' the suspects of a crime; but they also need to keep their minds open to other suspects.
  • maxhmaxh Posts: 1,571
    Leon said:

    Of all the stupid things Trump has done, this - along with the tariff madness - seems the most stupid of all

    And i am strongly sympathetic (unlike anyone else on here) to a lot of the Trumpite Culture War on Woke. But the damage to alliances, friendships and American tech/industrial exports could be generational, it may never be fixable

    I cannot see the logic. And usually I can see some logic to what Trump does - even if it is evil and immoral

    Maybe Trump really is a Russian agent, just as Starmer works for China
    Starmer being a Chinese agent would be a hell of a story. He's a much better asset than Trump is.
  • SelebianSelebian Posts: 9,186
    kinabalu said:

    That's shameful for a relatively wealthy country.
    It is, but the reality is that people have pinch points in their lives. We used to have about six months' income in savings, but the need for a bigger car after child three and some additional costs after an extension cleaned us out - we dipped below £1k for a bit. At present we have about two months' income in savings or a touch less, plus another two, but the latter is savings we use to spread costs over the year - holiday, car maintenance etc - so over the year it will all get spent.

    I doubt we'll be in a much better position until either my wife goes back to work (off for childcare at the moment) in which case we can save all her salary, or most and spend a bit more or I land a promotion - or change jobs. If the former, the the tight savings situation will have persisted for likely five years or so
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,688

    As a hospital doctor, I would imagine that the worst streets in town regularly come to his workplace. Which is why he would have such training, as it is far from unusual for doctors and nurses to get assaulted by patients.

    And what he said made sense. The aims are to:
    *) Minimise harm.
    *) maximising successful prosecution.

    In the scenario mentioned, you may not be able to stop the awful event alone, and going in with your fists is likely not to scare them off, but to make matters worse. What you would do depends on the situation, but calmly evaluating what is going on with those two aims in mind seems sensible. And then, of course, acting.
    Quite apart from the fact that a mid sized 60 year old man is clearly not going to be able to physically overpower 5 attackers. It's a situation that needs tackling differently if there is no other help available, and diversion and distraction can be effective in such a scenario.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,731

    As a hospital doctor, I would imagine that the worst streets in town regularly come to his workplace. Which is why he would have such training, as it is far from unusual for doctors and nurses to get assaulted by patients.

    And what he said made sense. The aims are to:
    *) Minimise harm.
    *) maximising successful prosecution.

    In the scenario mentioned, you may not be able to stop the awful event alone, and going in with your fists is likely not to scare them off, but to make matters worse. What you would do depends on the situation, but calmly evaluating what is going on with those two aims in mind seems sensible. And then, of course, acting.
    Indeed.

    Given the regularity of thuggery at various A&E, I’m surprised that we don’t have police officers stationed at some of them.

    I suppose it is a difference in approach. In London, the Met has opposed the opening of a late night Jazz club in Covent Garden.

    On the grounds that it would increase crime - against people leaving the club.

    Aside from the victim blaming… surely having the criminals in one place is an advantage?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,080

    Stop quoting Americans.

    This is the UK so we can say something different.

    Oh dear, how sad, nevermind.
    Can we have an Amen Chorus?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,080
    Leon said:

    Of all the stupid things Trump has done, this - along with the tariff madness - seems the most stupid of all

    And i am strongly sympathetic (unlike anyone else on here) to a lot of the Trumpite Culture War on Woke. But the damage to alliances, friendships and American tech/industrial exports could be generational, it may never be fixable

    I cannot see the logic. And usually I can see some logic to what Trump does - even if it is evil and immoral

    Maybe Trump really is a Russian agent, just as Starmer works for China
    I think that burning down the USA's international relationships is more damaging more broadly than that. Notably things like JD Vance pissing on the graves of all the soldiers from 50+ countries who served alongside them and were killed, in their support, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    For the UK that was 230k service people who served and getting on for a thousand who were killed.

    Next time they have a 9/11 and ask for help, the response will be crickets.

    They will lose something like $70-100bn annually in arms exports (that's 1/3 to 1/2 of present volume), plus all the other pivots away.

    Plus Trump has burnt down 80 years of reputational capital.

    Domestically, they are destroying the science base of their advanced economy, and their society itself. It's going to be quite apocalyptic.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,080
    MattW said:

    I think that burning down the USA's international relationships is more damaging more broadly than that. Notably things like JD Vance pissing on the graves of all the soldiers from 50+ countries who served alongside them and were killed, in their support, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    For the UK that was 230k service people who served and getting on for a thousand who were killed.

    Next time they have a 9/11 and ask for help, the response will be crickets.

    They will lose something like $70-100bn annually in arms exports (that's 1/3 to 1/2 of present volume), plus all the other pivots away.

    Plus Trump has burnt down 80 years of reputational capital.

    Domestically, they are destroying the science base of their advanced economy, and their society itself. It's going to be quite apocalyptic.
    Incidentally, had you copped that Uruguay is assessed by Freedom House as the equal 11th most "free" country in the world - above most of Europe. A nugget for your article, if not yet written?

    (Taiwan is ~top 25.)

    https://freedomhouse.org/countries/freedom-world/scores?sort=desc&order=Total Score and Status
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 10,595
    Foxy said:

    Quite apart from the fact that a mid sized 60 year old man is clearly not going to be able to physically overpower 5 attackers. It's a situation that needs tackling differently if there is no other help available, and diversion and distraction can be effective in such a scenario.
    Well as I was in my mid 30's at the time, but don't regret it. Phoned the police waded in, two ran 3 gave me a kicking but I did some damage too. Maybe you could stand by I couldn't
  • theakestheakes Posts: 956
    Two excellent local by election results at Harborough and Abbots Langley yesterday. This follows the Finchley by election a couple of weeks ago where a similar pattern emerged. Conservatives may do much better on May1st than everyone thinks.
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