Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Wow, Lib Dem Chief Whip takes action to stop a defection to Lab in The Commons –politicalbetting.com

2

Comments

  • nico67nico67 Posts: 4,879
    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

  • Rather amused by this article about complaints about Manchester United increasing 'senior' ticket prices by reducing the pensioner discount. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx291r5y6k8o

    The discount offered on senior tickets has been reduced from 50% to 25%.

    In particular amused because it shows a common but complete lack of understanding of percentages and pretty basic maths. A lot of people complaining that they were expecting a 25% increase in prices but its more like 60%: As a pensioner, I was expecting the increase to have been 30%, 5% price increase and 25% concession. No, it equates to 60%!! I'

    Yeah, that's how percentages work! Going from paying 50% of the full price, to 75% of the full price, is not a 25% increase in the cost you need to pay. Interesting how many people never understand something so very basic.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,969
    carnforth said:

    https://x.com/politlcsuk/status/1903100175976988882

    President Trump appears to agree to the US joining the British Commonwealth, saying it "sounds good to me"

    Just Ireland and Israel to go then.

    By the way, is the Commonwealth Games dead or was it saved? The US can pony up for that...
    going ahead in Scotland I believe.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,288
    A Twitter essay on immigration from Jenrick:

    https://x.com/robertjenrick/status/1903138449491656916
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,848
    So it begins...


    Really American 🇺🇸
    @ReallyAmerican1
    ·
    3h
    BREAKING: In an unbelievable moment, Trump's Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins tries to gaslight he Fox News audience by saying Americans knew they were voting for higher prices under Trump's tariffs when they elected him. That is a blatant lie.

    https://x.com/ReallyAmerican1/status/1903108701986156884
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,848
    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    Who could see that coming?
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,969
    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    You have to be either senile or kidding
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,011

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
  • PhilPhil Posts: 2,510
    Andy_JS said:

    "An experienced electrical engineer today blamed the catastrophic failure of an 'oil-filled transformer' for the devastating fire that has shut down Heathrow Airport and embarrassed Britain on the world stage.

    Tom Watters, who has worked on critical infrastructure around the world, told MailOnline the crucial substation powering Heathrow and west London contains 'very old' equipment and blamed a 'lack of investment' for the crisis.

    The substation fire in Hayes involved 25,000 litres of cooling oil igniting, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said."

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14523119/firefighters-major-update-heathrow-airport-met-police-cause.html

    Aren’t all large transformers oil cooled, whether very old or not?
  • Leon said:

    geoffw said:

    "Make everything better" is a Tabasco slogan

    Tabasco is hot sauce for people who don't like hot sauce.
    No, I’ve corrected you on this before

    1. The habanero and jalapeño varieties are seriously superior to the classic vinegar-and-heat trad Tabasco. It is that of which you speak

    2. Only Tabasco does the bottles tiny enough you can sneak them out in restaurants with UTTERLY DREADFUL FOOD* and not cause a stir


    *approximately 94% of eateries in Latin America
    You can get tiny bottles of many varieties of hot sauce.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,969

    Nigelb said:

    rcs1000 said:

    https://x.com/politlcsuk/status/1903100175976988882

    President Trump appears to agree to the US joining the British Commonwealth, saying it "sounds good to me"

    He's following the divide and conquer principle: what can I throw the Brits to separate them from the Europeans?

    And if it was a "one off", where we then found ourselves in the US's "good books", with all the benefits that accrue from that, then great.

    The problem is that once you have established a reputation for completely shafting your allies (see Canada), then why should Britain join the US? It'd only be a matter of time before we too were shafted because we'd upset King Donald.
    Would Canada be shafted if it joined the US?
    Ask a Canadian.
    Arguably the United States expanding to its natural borders would be a great thing for both sides, like the union between England and Scotland.
    total fruitcake , you have to be a joke for sure
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,969
    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    not many countries involved in that event Taz
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,894
    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    That's something that should make owners of TIPS extremely concerned. If you can no longer trust the inflation data, then you are not being adequately compensated.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,076
    Lunch over. The endless work resumes. 3rd tasting of the day


  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,848
    The greatest salesman ever:



    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump
    ·
    2h
    Trump says that “certain” U.S. allies will be able to buy a “toned-down” version of the new F-47 fighter jets:

    “Because someday they’re not our ally.”

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903128473264119899
  • malcolmg said:

    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    not many countries involved in that event Taz
    Yeah, after all we only finished ahead of 202 countries in the Tokyo Olympics, and finished behind a mammoth 3 countries.

    Team GB was 4th out of 206 nations in Tokyo.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,576
    I am so high up in the Manchester Arena (a Peter Kay gig since you ask) I'm suffering from vertigo.

    He'd better put on a good show!
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,278
    Phil said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "An experienced electrical engineer today blamed the catastrophic failure of an 'oil-filled transformer' for the devastating fire that has shut down Heathrow Airport and embarrassed Britain on the world stage.

    Tom Watters, who has worked on critical infrastructure around the world, told MailOnline the crucial substation powering Heathrow and west London contains 'very old' equipment and blamed a 'lack of investment' for the crisis.

    The substation fire in Hayes involved 25,000 litres of cooling oil igniting, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said."

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14523119/firefighters-major-update-heathrow-airport-met-police-cause.html

    Aren’t all large transformers oil cooled, whether very old or not?
    "There's a thin line between being a hero, and being a memory." - Optimus Prime.
  • Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 3,542
    Cyclefree said:

    I am so high up in the Manchester Arena (a Peter Kay gig since you ask) I'm suffering from vertigo.

    He'd better put on a good show!

    Saw Bob Dylan once at the NEC. At least, I think I did. From that distance it could have been anyone. And he seemed to have forgotten some of his old tunes, so maybe it was someone else?
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,011
    Cyclefree said:

    I am so high up in the Manchester Arena (a Peter Kay gig since you ask) I'm suffering from vertigo.

    He'd better put on a good show!

    Sounds similar to the away end at St James Park.
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,011
    malcolmg said:

    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    not many countries involved in that event Taz
    True, Malc.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,884
    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    We have the commonwealth games for that. Or at least, that was the original idea.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,848
    This is jaw dropping.

    Canadians who have been coming to this guy's hotel every summer for 30 or 40 years are cancelling in droves. The phone doesn't stop ringing.



    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump

    WOW. The owner of a popular inn in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, told CNN that “easily” 90% of their business has disappeared as Canadian tourists cancel their vacations in the U.S. following Trump’s relentless attacks on their country.

    Donald Trump is destroying America.

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903099415142793506
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,448
    edited March 21

    Cyclefree said:

    I am so high up in the Manchester Arena (a Peter Kay gig since you ask) I'm suffering from vertigo.

    He'd better put on a good show!

    Saw Bob Dylan once at the NEC. At least, I think I did. From that distance it could have been anyone. And he seemed to have forgotten some of his old tunes, so maybe it was someone else?
    That's part of the live Bob experience. Half the time you have no clue what song he's doing.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,981
    malcolmg said:

    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    You have to be either senile or kidding
    The threshold for charging seems to be v high. If she did nothing wrong I would be more than amazed
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,011
    IanB2 said:

    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    We have the commonwealth games for that. Or at least, that was the original idea.
    Problem is it’s too expensive to run and hardly anyone seems to want to do it now.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,106
    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    Doesn't that logic Team GB out of the Olympics?
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,554
    Phil said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "An experienced electrical engineer today blamed the catastrophic failure of an 'oil-filled transformer' for the devastating fire that has shut down Heathrow Airport and embarrassed Britain on the world stage.

    Tom Watters, who has worked on critical infrastructure around the world, told MailOnline the crucial substation powering Heathrow and west London contains 'very old' equipment and blamed a 'lack of investment' for the crisis.

    The substation fire in Hayes involved 25,000 litres of cooling oil igniting, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said."

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14523119/firefighters-major-update-heathrow-airport-met-police-cause.html

    Aren’t all large transformers oil cooled, whether very old or not?
    The problem is they’re robots in disguise. AI.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,448
    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    Is there a way to do tariffs against the US that especially hurts his base? If so I think it's worth considering.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,457

    This is jaw dropping.

    Canadians who have been coming to this guy's hotel every summer for 30 or 40 years are cancelling in droves. The phone doesn't stop ringing.



    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump

    WOW. The owner of a popular inn in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, told CNN that “easily” 90% of their business has disappeared as Canadian tourists cancel their vacations in the U.S. following Trump’s relentless attacks on their country.

    Donald Trump is destroying America.

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903099415142793506

    Impressive. But probably he'll just have to lower the price and it will fill up with Americans. So not quite the disaster he's claiming. Unless the whole town is just Canadian tourism, which I suppose is possible.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,559
    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    Isn't it just a matter of only having events where competitors are seated?
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,011
    Foxy said:

    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    Isn't it just a matter of only having events where competitors are seated?
    Get darts in to the Olympics 👍
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,313

    malcolmg said:

    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    You have to be either senile or kidding
    The threshold for charging seems to be v high. If she did nothing wrong I would be more than amazed
    Or he’s made a statement taking all the blame, and saying he never told her what he’d done.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,457

    malcolmg said:

    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    You have to be either senile or kidding
    The threshold for charging seems to be v high. If she did nothing wrong I would be more than amazed
    Or he’s made a statement taking all the blame, and saying he never told her what he’d done.
    Where did she think the money for the motorhome came from, though? See no evil..
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,278
    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    We got 22 Golds, 20 Silvers, and 22 Bronzes at Tokyo.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 30,735

    A Twitter essay on immigration from Jenrick:

    https://x.com/robertjenrick/status/1903138449491656916

    That is really quite disingenuous from Honest Bob.

    He has clearly seen an Enoch Powell, Peter Griffiths angle.

    Trump and Putin are destabilising Europe and Jenrick sees an opportunity to stir up racial tension in his ascent of the greasy pole.

    Why doesn't he f*** off to Reform where he belongs.
  • Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 3,542
    Taz said:

    IanB2 said:

    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    We have the commonwealth games for that. Or at least, that was the original idea.
    Problem is it’s too expensive to run and hardly anyone seems to want to do it now.
    It should be restricted to proper British sports like crown green bowls, the Eton Wall Game and rolling a giant cheese truckle downhill. As a pallid reflection of the Olympics its day has been and gone.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,120

    The greatest salesman ever:



    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump
    ·
    2h
    Trump says that “certain” U.S. allies will be able to buy a “toned-down” version of the new F-47 fighter jets:

    “Because someday they’re not our ally.”

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903128473264119899

    Or they can buy from somebody else. "Because perhaps every day they are not reliably our ally...."
  • kinabalu said:

    Cyclefree said:

    I am so high up in the Manchester Arena (a Peter Kay gig since you ask) I'm suffering from vertigo.

    He'd better put on a good show!

    Saw Bob Dylan once at the NEC. At least, I think I did. From that distance it could have been anyone. And he seemed to have forgotten some of his old tunes, so maybe it was someone else?
    That's part of the live Bob experience. Half the time you have no clue what song he's doing.
    I saw him at the O2, and in addition to being unable to place the harmony, rhythm or words of any of his tracks, our evening was immeasurably improved by the bloke in the row in front pulling out a harmonica and playing along.
    I love BD but that was one of my worst live experiences ever.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 34,313
    carnforth said:

    malcolmg said:

    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    You have to be either senile or kidding
    The threshold for charging seems to be v high. If she did nothing wrong I would be more than amazed
    Or he’s made a statement taking all the blame, and saying he never told her what he’d done.
    Where did she think the money for the motorhome came from, though? See no evil..
    Borrowed?
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,576
    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    She signed the accounts. The police thought there was enough evidence to warrant a report to those making charging decisions. She has not been cleared because that only happens if you are tried and acquitted.

    What has happened is that those making the charging decisions have determined that there is insufficient evidence to justify any charges on the basis of the applicable tests. She remains
    innocent.

    Worth noting that after Salmond was acquitted Sturgeon sought to imply he was "really" guilty and a wrong' un. If some now do that to her it would be karma.

    But she is an innocent person.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,120

    This is jaw dropping.

    Canadians who have been coming to this guy's hotel every summer for 30 or 40 years are cancelling in droves. The phone doesn't stop ringing.



    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump

    WOW. The owner of a popular inn in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, told CNN that “easily” 90% of their business has disappeared as Canadian tourists cancel their vacations in the U.S. following Trump’s relentless attacks on their country.

    Donald Trump is destroying America.

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903099415142793506

    Who is going to want to go on holiday to the US - and risk ending up in an El Salvadorean prison after no due process?
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 17,793
    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    Which increase in GDP measure will be used for the US in the PB predictions competition? The official Trump version or the real number?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,472

    The greatest salesman ever:

    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump
    ·
    2h
    Trump says that “certain” U.S. allies will be able to buy a “toned-down” version of the new F-47 fighter jets:

    “Because someday they’re not our ally.”

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903128473264119899

    So give up the chance to compete, in return for a downgraded piece of junk ?
    From a guy who's already pulled the rug on Europe ?

    Not exactly compelling as an offer.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,288

    A Twitter essay on immigration from Jenrick:

    https://x.com/robertjenrick/status/1903138449491656916

    That is really quite disingenuous from Honest Bob.

    He has clearly seen an Enoch Powell, Peter Griffiths angle.

    Trump and Putin are destabilising Europe and Jenrick sees an opportunity to stir up racial tension in his ascent of the greasy pole.

    Why doesn't he f*** off to Reform where he belongs.
    Farage has a zero tolerance attitude towards the far right so might not have him.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,120
    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    Difficult to doctor telling voters they stilll have a job when they don't...
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,331
    Evening all :)

    In response to @Luckyguy1983's comments, I've actually read Kemi Badenoch's speech from earlier in the week.

    My response, fairly predictably, is to ask what she thought was going on between 2010 and 2024? It's almost as thought she is determined to airbrush fourteen years of history and government and have a cheap pop at both Ed Miliband and Ed Davey.

    Yes, you can vertainly argue energy policy generally needs more thought but for the Conservatives to come to the table now and start doing rhe thinking is a damning indictment of the waste of the years in office. What did they do? What did Kemi Badenoch, as Cabinet Minister, do about any of this?

    What she proposes is reasonable enough - I'm sure Coutinho will come up with something though for all the picking apart of other proposals, as for what a future Conservative Government might do, platitudes. The debate seems to start from where it always has - the future of the environment versus economic growth and prosperity in the present?

    That's not the place to start in my view - claiming people won't accept lower living standards (and more taxes now) for environmental protection in the future is disingenuous in extremis. Conservative might not - I suspect many others would.

    Instead of claiming it would be economically ruinous to move to Net Zero by 2050, why nost start from the premise of whether it would be environmentally disastrous not to move to Net Zero by 2050? There's an element of leading by example, as I've said, and the internal politics of Russia, China, America and India may well be more open to technological advances which can reduce environmental degradation and resulting climate impacts.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,120
    Lewis-Skelling!
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 17,793
    Cyclefree said:

    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    She signed the accounts. The police thought there was enough evidence to warrant a report to those making charging decisions. She has not been cleared because that only happens if you are tried and acquitted.

    What has happened is that those making the charging decisions have determined that there is insufficient evidence to justify any charges on the basis of the applicable tests. She remains
    innocent.

    Worth noting that after Salmond was acquitted Sturgeon sought to imply he was "really" guilty and a wrong' un. If some now do that to her it would be karma.

    But she is an innocent person.
    The SNP has a talent for picking leaders who are innocent of serious misdemeanors.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,554
    stodge said:

    Evening all :)

    In response to @Luckyguy1983's comments, I've actually read Kemi Badenoch's speech from earlier in the week.

    My response, fairly predictably, is to ask what she thought was going on between 2010 and 2024? It's almost as thought she is determined to airbrush fourteen years of history and government and have a cheap pop at both Ed Miliband and Ed Davey.

    Yes, you can vertainly argue energy policy generally needs more thought but for the Conservatives to come to the table now and start doing rhe thinking is a damning indictment of the waste of the years in office. What did they do? What did Kemi Badenoch, as Cabinet Minister, do about any of this?

    What she proposes is reasonable enough - I'm sure Coutinho will come up with something though for all the picking apart of other proposals, as for what a future Conservative Government might do, platitudes. The debate seems to start from where it always has - the future of the environment versus economic growth and prosperity in the present?

    That's not the place to start in my view - claiming people won't accept lower living standards (and more taxes now) for environmental protection in the future is disingenuous in extremis. Conservative might not - I suspect many others would.

    Instead of claiming it would be economically ruinous to move to Net Zero by 2050, why nost start from the premise of whether it would be environmentally disastrous not to move to Net Zero by 2050? There's an element of leading by example, as I've said, and the internal politics of Russia, China, America and India may well be more open to technological advances which can reduce environmental degradation and resulting climate impacts.

    I can only conclude that deep down, below the triangulating language, there are still a number of her ilk that don’t actually believe climate change is real, or a serious threat. Regardless of the evidence.
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,011

    Taz said:

    Taz said:

    Incoming IOC president open to the return of Russia to the Olympic fold, is against bans and points out there are other wars going on at the moment and the aggressors are not banned.

    https://news.sky.com/story/incoming-ioc-president-to-open-talks-on-russias-potential-return-to-olympics-13333288

    IOC should ban dictatorships and absolute monarchies.
    IOC should only allow nations to participate who the British team can beat.
    We got 22 Golds, 20 Silvers, and 22 Bronzes at Tokyo.
    Did we really, oh how awfully nice.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,559

    This is jaw dropping.

    Canadians who have been coming to this guy's hotel every summer for 30 or 40 years are cancelling in droves. The phone doesn't stop ringing.



    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump

    WOW. The owner of a popular inn in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, told CNN that “easily” 90% of their business has disappeared as Canadian tourists cancel their vacations in the U.S. following Trump’s relentless attacks on their country.

    Donald Trump is destroying America.

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903099415142793506

    Who is going to want to go on holiday to the US - and risk ending up in an El Salvadorean prison after no due process?
    In view of my forthcoming visit, I would like to get on my Social Media record that Trump is the greatest deal maker in human history, and obviously the best President of all time.

    Power to his elbow and his talented sidekick, who in no way is the real President.

    We don’t need no education. Wise words.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,457
    Foxy said:

    This is jaw dropping.

    Canadians who have been coming to this guy's hotel every summer for 30 or 40 years are cancelling in droves. The phone doesn't stop ringing.



    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump

    WOW. The owner of a popular inn in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, told CNN that “easily” 90% of their business has disappeared as Canadian tourists cancel their vacations in the U.S. following Trump’s relentless attacks on their country.

    Donald Trump is destroying America.

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903099415142793506

    Who is going to want to go on holiday to the US - and risk ending up in an El Salvadorean prison after no due process?
    In view of my forthcoming visit, I would like to get on my Social Media record that Trump is the greatest deal maker in human history, and obviously the best President of all time.

    Power to his elbow and his talented sidekick, who in no way is the real President.

    We don’t need no education. Wise words.
    Should we all list PB under "other" in the ESTA social medai section?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,894

    kinabalu said:

    Cyclefree said:

    I am so high up in the Manchester Arena (a Peter Kay gig since you ask) I'm suffering from vertigo.

    He'd better put on a good show!

    Saw Bob Dylan once at the NEC. At least, I think I did. From that distance it could have been anyone. And he seemed to have forgotten some of his old tunes, so maybe it was someone else?
    That's part of the live Bob experience. Half the time you have no clue what song he's doing.
    I saw him at the O2, and in addition to being unable to place the harmony, rhythm or words of any of his tracks, our evening was immeasurably improved by the bloke in the row in front pulling out a harmonica and playing along.
    I love BD but that was one of my worst live experiences ever.
    Fun fact: Bob's son (the one from the Wallflowers?) looked around our house in LA with a view to renting it. I wasn't there, but according to my wife he was very handsome.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 25,930
    Foxy said:

    This is jaw dropping.

    Canadians who have been coming to this guy's hotel every summer for 30 or 40 years are cancelling in droves. The phone doesn't stop ringing.

    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump

    WOW. The owner of a popular inn in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, told CNN that “easily” 90% of their business has disappeared as Canadian tourists cancel their vacations in the U.S. following Trump’s relentless attacks on their country.

    Donald Trump is destroying America.

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903099415142793506

    Who is going to want to go on holiday to the US - and risk ending up in an El Salvadorean prison after no due process?
    In view of my forthcoming visit, I would like to get on my Social Media record that Trump is the greatest deal maker in human history, and obviously the best President of all time.

    Power to his elbow and his talented sidekick, who in no way is the real President.

    We don’t need no education. Wise words.
    Are you a self-doxed Fox?

    With the number of "Chump"s and worse on my twitter account, I would not stand a chance.

    So it would be a burner phone, and plausible deniability.
  • kinabalu said:

    Cyclefree said:

    I am so high up in the Manchester Arena (a Peter Kay gig since you ask) I'm suffering from vertigo.

    He'd better put on a good show!

    Saw Bob Dylan once at the NEC. At least, I think I did. From that distance it could have been anyone. And he seemed to have forgotten some of his old tunes, so maybe it was someone else?
    That's part of the live Bob experience. Half the time you have no clue what song he's doing.
    I saw him at the O2, and in addition to being unable to place the harmony, rhythm or words of any of his tracks, our evening was immeasurably improved by the bloke in the row in front pulling out a harmonica and playing along.
    I love BD but that was one of my worst live experiences ever.
    Sorry Berberian - you should have asked me to stop!
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,706
    rcs1000 said:

    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    That's something that should make owners of TIPS extremely concerned. If you can no longer trust the inflation data, then you are not being adequately compensated.
    It's the kind of shit that will send investor money fleeing from the US to the UK and Asia. If people think the US is cooking the books then you can't invest there. It's too risky.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,515
    carnforth said:

    malcolmg said:

    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    You have to be either senile or kidding
    The threshold for charging seems to be v high. If she did nothing wrong I would be more than amazed
    Or he’s made a statement taking all the blame, and saying he never told her what he’d done.
    Where did she think the money for the motorhome came from, though? See no evil..
    Let me tell you about the ever-so-convenient Magic Money Tree...
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,288
    https://x.com/secrubio/status/1903168207050956984

    Today, I announced the designation under Section 7031(c) of former President of Argentina, Cristina Elisabet Fernandez de Kirchner, and former Argentine Minister of Planning, Julio Miguel De Vido, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office. The United States is committed to ensuring there’s accountability for corrupt officials around the world
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,527

    https://x.com/secrubio/status/1903168207050956984

    Today, I announced the designation under Section 7031(c) of former President of Argentina, Cristina Elisabet Fernandez de Kirchner, and former Argentine Minister of Planning, Julio Miguel De Vido, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office. The United States is committed to ensuring there’s accountability for corrupt officials around the world

    There's that Putin fella
  • glwglw Posts: 10,258

    https://x.com/secrubio/status/1903168207050956984

    Today, I announced the designation under Section 7031(c) of former President of Argentina, Cristina Elisabet Fernandez de Kirchner, and former Argentine Minister of Planning, Julio Miguel De Vido, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office. The United States is committed to ensuring there’s accountability for corrupt officials around the world

    But not at home.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,894
    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    That's something that should make owners of TIPS extremely concerned. If you can no longer trust the inflation data, then you are not being adequately compensated.
    It's the kind of shit that will send investor money fleeing from the US to the UK and Asia. If people think the US is cooking the books then you can't invest there. It's too risky.
    The good news is that that would solve the US's current account deficit! (Albeit at the cost of a nasty recession.)
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,559
    MattW said:


    Foxy said:

    This is jaw dropping.

    Canadians who have been coming to this guy's hotel every summer for 30 or 40 years are cancelling in droves. The phone doesn't stop ringing.

    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump

    WOW. The owner of a popular inn in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, told CNN that “easily” 90% of their business has disappeared as Canadian tourists cancel their vacations in the U.S. following Trump’s relentless attacks on their country.

    Donald Trump is destroying America.

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903099415142793506

    Who is going to want to go on holiday to the US - and risk ending up in an El Salvadorean prison after no due process?
    In view of my forthcoming visit, I would like to get on my Social Media record that Trump is the greatest deal maker in human history, and obviously the best President of all time.

    Power to his elbow and his talented sidekick, who in no way is the real President.

    We don’t need no education. Wise words.
    Are you a self-doxed Fox?

    With the number of "Chump"s and worse on my twitter account, I would not stand a chance.

    So it would be a burner phone, and plausible deniability.
    I was thinking more of borrowing @williamglenn T shirt for the immigration line.



    I am sure that will ensure a swift entry, with no stay in an El Salvadorean Gulag at all.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 30,735

    https://x.com/secrubio/status/1903168207050956984

    Today, I announced the designation under Section 7031(c) of former President of Argentina, Cristina Elisabet Fernandez de Kirchner, and former Argentine Minister of Planning, Julio Miguel De Vido, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office. The United States is committed to ensuring there’s accountability for corrupt officials around the world

    That's Trump 1 and 2 up Shit Street then.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,515

    kinabalu said:

    Cyclefree said:

    I am so high up in the Manchester Arena (a Peter Kay gig since you ask) I'm suffering from vertigo.

    He'd better put on a good show!

    Saw Bob Dylan once at the NEC. At least, I think I did. From that distance it could have been anyone. And he seemed to have forgotten some of his old tunes, so maybe it was someone else?
    That's part of the live Bob experience. Half the time you have no clue what song he's doing.
    I saw him at the O2, and in addition to being unable to place the harmony, rhythm or words of any of his tracks, our evening was immeasurably improved by the bloke in the row in front pulling out a harmonica and playing along.
    I love BD but that was one of my worst live experiences ever.
    I remember being at a Prince concert in the late 80s while at his full pomp. Amazing music - but at the distance I was at in the stadium - visually it was rather like watching a flea circus.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,884

    Leon said:

    carnforth said:

    Leon said:

    geoffw said:

    "Make everything better" is a Tabasco slogan

    Tabasco is hot sauce for people who don't like hot sauce.
    No, I’ve corrected you on this before

    1. The habanero and jalapeño varieties are seriously superior to the classic vinegar-and-heat trad Tabasco. It is that of which you speak

    2. Only Tabasco does the bottles tiny enough you can sneak them out in restaurants with UTTERLY DREADFUL FOOD* and not cause a stir


    *approximately 94% of eateries in Latin America
    But why is the food bad? Is home cooking there bad? Or just restaurants? Don't poor places sometimes have good food because they have time on their hands? Surely they have no problem with quality of ingredients? Is carribean food shite too?
    I wrote a whole long essay in the Gazette about the peculiar awfulness of Latin American food - which certainly cannot be ascribed to lack of money or produce

    I’ve just come from Myanmar - GDP per capita $1800, enduring a civil war, power cuts every day - magnificent varied cuisine. Now I’m in Uruguay - GDP per capita $18,000 - ten times richer - stable and prosperous by local standards - dreary ugly nasty food. Badly cooked and zero sense of spicing and flavouring

    My piece should be out soon

    As for the Caribbean it is fairly bad and the more Spanish it is the worse it gets. Cuba OMFG
    What do you expect? The Europeans wiped out the indigenous people who presumably knew how to make good food from local produce. And created plantation economies where food was designed to deliver maximum calories at minimum cost, while the European elites ate a kind of second rate transplanted European diet. New world societies are built on slavery and genocide, that's not a great recipe for culinary excellence.
    Or it’s just an old man losing his taste buds?
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,036
    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    A second blue tent, another £million and an extra year would surely have seen justice prevail.
  • Frank_BoothFrank_Booth Posts: 115
    rcs1000 said:

    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    That's something that should make owners of TIPS extremely concerned. If you can no longer trust the inflation data, then you are not being adequately compensated.
    It's the kind of shit that will send investor money fleeing from the US to the UK and Asia. If people think the US is cooking the books then you can't invest there. It's too risky.
    The good news is that that would solve the US's current account deficit! (Albeit at the cost of a nasty recession.)
    The question is how can current account deficits be sustained other than by selling off your assets. The US is a safe haven but over time more and more of it is owned by someone else and the returns on capital go elsewhere.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,134

    Lewis-Skelling!

    That goal is down to me - I had just commented to my brother how Lewis-Skelling had made about 50 back or sideways passes and done sod-all else.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,076
    edited March 21
    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    carnforth said:

    Leon said:

    geoffw said:

    "Make everything better" is a Tabasco slogan

    Tabasco is hot sauce for people who don't like hot sauce.
    No, I’ve corrected you on this before

    1. The habanero and jalapeño varieties are seriously superior to the classic vinegar-and-heat trad Tabasco. It is that of which you speak

    2. Only Tabasco does the bottles tiny enough you can sneak them out in restaurants with UTTERLY DREADFUL FOOD* and not cause a stir


    *approximately 94% of eateries in Latin America
    But why is the food bad? Is home cooking there bad? Or just restaurants? Don't poor places sometimes have good food because they have time on their hands? Surely they have no problem with quality of ingredients? Is carribean food shite too?
    I wrote a whole long essay in the Gazette about the peculiar awfulness of Latin American food - which certainly cannot be ascribed to lack of money or produce

    I’ve just come from Myanmar - GDP per capita $1800, enduring a civil war, power cuts every day - magnificent varied cuisine. Now I’m in Uruguay - GDP per capita $18,000 - ten times richer - stable and prosperous by local standards - dreary ugly nasty food. Badly cooked and zero sense of spicing and flavouring

    My piece should be out soon

    As for the Caribbean it is fairly bad and the more Spanish it is the worse it gets. Cuba OMFG
    What do you expect? The Europeans wiped out the indigenous people who presumably knew how to make good food from local produce. And created plantation economies where food was designed to deliver maximum calories at minimum cost, while the European elites ate a kind of second rate transplanted European diet. New world societies are built on slavery and genocide, that's not a great recipe for culinary excellence.
    Or it’s just an old man losing his taste buds?
    You could have a point. I now prefer sex with a side order of kink, got used to the heightened sensation. Sex with kink versus vanilla sex is like flying good business over economy. A jaded luxury palate?

    However, out in Asia - from Japan to Korea, Vietnam to Cambodia to China to Myanmar - I have no problem with the food at all. Require no secret bottles of Tabasco habanero. I love that food and need no personal touches. Because it is genuinely great food

    So, no, I don’t think it’s my aged jaded ennui. I’ve just travelled everywhere and eaten everything and done everyone and I know crap food when I eat it
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,168
    edited March 21

    So it begins...


    Really American 🇺🇸
    @ReallyAmerican1
    ·
    3h
    BREAKING: In an unbelievable moment, Trump's Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins tries to gaslight he Fox News audience by saying Americans knew they were voting for higher prices under Trump's tariffs when they elected him. That is a blatant lie.

    https://x.com/ReallyAmerican1/status/1903108701986156884

    They'll eat it up. People don't like being told they are the one's at fault (for not listening to warnings), I sure don't, and will contort hugely to avoid that conclusion.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,168

    https://x.com/secrubio/status/1903168207050956984

    Today, I announced the designation under Section 7031(c) of former President of Argentina, Cristina Elisabet Fernandez de Kirchner, and former Argentine Minister of Planning, Julio Miguel De Vido, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office. The United States is committed to ensuring there’s accountability for corrupt officials around the world

    That's Trump 1 and 2 up Shit Street then.
    He said around the world, not all across the world. The US is obviously to be excluded. Pretty ballsy though.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,076
    For any worried PBers, I’m happy now tho. That 3rd wine tasting was genuinely fine wines and I did it with a hilarious Scottish couple (I suspect very wealthy, in their early 30s and jetting around the world for months for fun?)

    We had a laugh and lots of wine and really quite good steak - steak! - tartare
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,168
    Foxy said:

    MattW said:


    Foxy said:

    This is jaw dropping.

    Canadians who have been coming to this guy's hotel every summer for 30 or 40 years are cancelling in droves. The phone doesn't stop ringing.

    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump

    WOW. The owner of a popular inn in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, told CNN that “easily” 90% of their business has disappeared as Canadian tourists cancel their vacations in the U.S. following Trump’s relentless attacks on their country.

    Donald Trump is destroying America.

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903099415142793506

    Who is going to want to go on holiday to the US - and risk ending up in an El Salvadorean prison after no due process?
    In view of my forthcoming visit, I would like to get on my Social Media record that Trump is the greatest deal maker in human history, and obviously the best President of all time.

    Power to his elbow and his talented sidekick, who in no way is the real President.

    We don’t need no education. Wise words.
    Are you a self-doxed Fox?

    With the number of "Chump"s and worse on my twitter account, I would not stand a chance.

    So it would be a burner phone, and plausible deniability.
    I was thinking more of borrowing @williamglenn T shirt for the immigration line.



    I am sure that will ensure a swift entry, with no stay in an El Salvadorean Gulag at all.
    I prefer this little known bible story.

    I think it comes shortly after the moneychangers story.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,472
    Foxy said:

    This is jaw dropping.

    Canadians who have been coming to this guy's hotel every summer for 30 or 40 years are cancelling in droves. The phone doesn't stop ringing.



    Republicans against Trump
    @RpsAgainstTrump

    WOW. The owner of a popular inn in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, told CNN that “easily” 90% of their business has disappeared as Canadian tourists cancel their vacations in the U.S. following Trump’s relentless attacks on their country.

    Donald Trump is destroying America.

    https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1903099415142793506

    Who is going to want to go on holiday to the US - and risk ending up in an El Salvadorean prison after no due process?
    In view of my forthcoming visit, I would like to get on my Social Media record that Trump is the greatest deal maker in human history, and obviously the best President of all time.

    Power to his elbow and his talented sidekick, who in no way is the real President.

    We don’t need no education. Wise words.
    The future's bright; the future's Orange.

    (Alternatively, it's dire, and papaya.)
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,134
    ohnotnow said:

    kinabalu said:

    Cyclefree said:

    I am so high up in the Manchester Arena (a Peter Kay gig since you ask) I'm suffering from vertigo.

    He'd better put on a good show!

    Saw Bob Dylan once at the NEC. At least, I think I did. From that distance it could have been anyone. And he seemed to have forgotten some of his old tunes, so maybe it was someone else?
    That's part of the live Bob experience. Half the time you have no clue what song he's doing.
    I saw him at the O2, and in addition to being unable to place the harmony, rhythm or words of any of his tracks, our evening was immeasurably improved by the bloke in the row in front pulling out a harmonica and playing along.
    I love BD but that was one of my worst live experiences ever.
    I remember being at a Prince concert in the late 80s while at his full pomp. Amazing music - but at the distance I was at in the stadium - visually it was rather like watching a flea circus.
    We saw Paul Simon from the far end of the Manchester Arena... he was on the big screen either side of the stage.

    Apparently he was there in person but hard to tell - it's not as if he's that big close-up.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,134
    kle4 said:

    So it begins...


    Really American 🇺🇸
    @ReallyAmerican1
    ·
    3h
    BREAKING: In an unbelievable moment, Trump's Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins tries to gaslight he Fox News audience by saying Americans knew they were voting for higher prices under Trump's tariffs when they elected him. That is a blatant lie.

    https://x.com/ReallyAmerican1/status/1903108701986156884

    They'll eat it up. People don't like being told they are the one's at fault (for not listening to warnings), I sure don't, and will contort hugely to avoid that conclusion.
    True MAGA believers will but the 10% who are swing voters won't.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,168

    kle4 said:

    So it begins...


    Really American 🇺🇸
    @ReallyAmerican1
    ·
    3h
    BREAKING: In an unbelievable moment, Trump's Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins tries to gaslight he Fox News audience by saying Americans knew they were voting for higher prices under Trump's tariffs when they elected him. That is a blatant lie.

    https://x.com/ReallyAmerican1/status/1903108701986156884

    They'll eat it up. People don't like being told they are the one's at fault (for not listening to warnings), I sure don't, and will contort hugely to avoid that conclusion.
    True MAGA believers will but the 10% who are swing voters won't.
    There's 2 years to implement changes and policies to minimise the impact of those cucks.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,472
    Amos Harel is probably Israel’s top military and security journalists, so if he writes that Israel might try soon to take over Gaza entirely everyone should listen. Apparently the IDF chief of staff already presented a plan to the government
    https://x.com/NadavPollak/status/1903167090103587174
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,036
    Cyclefree said:

    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    She signed the accounts. The police thought there was enough evidence to warrant a report to those making charging decisions. She has not been cleared because that only happens if you are tried and acquitted.

    What has happened is that those making the charging decisions have determined that there is insufficient evidence to justify any charges on the basis of the applicable tests. She remains
    innocent.

    Worth noting that after Salmond was acquitted Sturgeon sought to imply he was "really" guilty and a wrong' un. If some now do that to her it would be karma.

    But she is an innocent person.
    Just checking, do you have some statements from Sturgeon implying that Salmond was ‘really’ guilty and a wrong’(sic) un?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,894

    rcs1000 said:

    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    That's something that should make owners of TIPS extremely concerned. If you can no longer trust the inflation data, then you are not being adequately compensated.
    It's the kind of shit that will send investor money fleeing from the US to the UK and Asia. If people think the US is cooking the books then you can't invest there. It's too risky.
    The good news is that that would solve the US's current account deficit! (Albeit at the cost of a nasty recession.)
    The question is how can current account deficits be sustained other than by selling off your assets. The US is a safe haven but over time more and more of it is owned by someone else and the returns on capital go elsewhere.
    Not only that, but because the profits from your firms and the interest on your government debt go overseas, it becomes ever harder to run a current account surplus.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,286

    Cyclefree said:

    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    She signed the accounts. The police thought there was enough evidence to warrant a report to those making charging decisions. She has not been cleared because that only happens if you are tried and acquitted.

    What has happened is that those making the charging decisions have determined that there is insufficient evidence to justify any charges on the basis of the applicable tests. She remains
    innocent.

    Worth noting that after Salmond was acquitted Sturgeon sought to imply he was "really" guilty and a wrong' un. If some now do that to her it would be karma.

    But she is an innocent person.
    Just checking, do you have some statements from Sturgeon implying that Salmond was ‘really’ guilty and a wrong’(sic) un?
    Well there’s this, which I said at the time was unwise to say.

    The motives of those women were now being “maligned [and] have been accused of being liars and conspiracists”, [Sturgeon] said.

    “The behaviour complained of was found by a jury not to constitute criminal conduct and Alex Salmond is innocent of criminality, but that doesn’t mean the behaviour complained of didn’t happen and I think it’s important that we don’t lose sight of that.”


    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/24/salmond-has-questions-to-answer-about-past-conduct-says-sturgeon
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 72,956

    Cyclefree said:

    Roger said:

    It would seem the non charging of Sturgeon has passed without a whimper.
    I find it troubling that such matters nearly all seem to end without any elected official being charged

    Perhaps the fact she did nothing wrong played a part?
    She signed the accounts. The police thought there was enough evidence to warrant a report to those making charging decisions. She has not been cleared because that only happens if you are tried and acquitted.

    What has happened is that those making the charging decisions have determined that there is insufficient evidence to justify any charges on the basis of the applicable tests. She remains
    innocent.

    Worth noting that after Salmond was acquitted Sturgeon sought to imply he was "really" guilty and a wrong' un. If some now do that to her it would be karma.

    But she is an innocent person.
    Just checking, do you have some statements from Sturgeon implying that Salmond was ‘really’ guilty and a wrong’(sic) un?
    There's this rather famous one:

    Maybe creating an alternative reality in which the organs of the state [were] all part of some wild conspiracy against him, for reasons I can’t explain, maybe that’s just easier than accepting at the root of all this might just have been issues in his own behaviour,” she said. “But that’s for him to explain, if he ever decides to pitch up and sit in front of the committee.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/24/salmond-has-questions-to-answer-about-past-conduct-says-sturgeon

    To be fair, I would say she was right on that point given what he admitted to.
  • RattersRatters Posts: 1,249
    edited March 21
    Nigelb said:

    Amos Harel is probably Israel’s top military and security journalists, so if he writes that Israel might try soon to take over Gaza entirely everyone should listen. Apparently the IDF chief of staff already presented a plan to the government
    https://x.com/NadavPollak/status/1903167090103587174

    We are back in a world where countries taking over some or all of other countries by force (economic or military) is geopolitically acceptable according to the world's main policeman.

    It does not surprise me in the slightest that the Israeli government sees this as an opportunity to take action that it couldn't contemplate in the past.

    I feel for any non-combatants still living in Gaza.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,472
    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    That's something that should make owners of TIPS extremely concerned. If you can no longer trust the inflation data, then you are not being adequately compensated.
    It's the kind of shit that will send investor money fleeing from the US to the UK and Asia. If people think the US is cooking the books then you can't invest there. It's too risky.
    The good news is that that would solve the US's current account deficit! (Albeit at the cost of a nasty recession.)
    The question is how can current account deficits be sustained other than by selling off your assets. The US is a safe haven but over time more and more of it is owned by someone else and the returns on capital go elsewhere.
    Not only that, but because the profits from your firms and the interest on your government debt go overseas, it becomes ever harder to run a current account surplus.
    Isn't that what happened to us ?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,837
    kinabalu said:

    Cyclefree said:

    I am so high up in the Manchester Arena (a Peter Kay gig since you ask) I'm suffering from vertigo.

    He'd better put on a good show!

    Saw Bob Dylan once at the NEC. At least, I think I did. From that distance it could have been anyone. And he seemed to have forgotten some of his old tunes, so maybe it was someone else?
    That's part of the live Bob experience. Half the time you have no clue what song he's doing.
    Nor indeed which Bob will show.
    First gig still the best I've ever seen.
    Second was dire.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,168
    Seems random to me, what the heck is being launched?

    Interesting to see how the UK is now the country responsible for the fourth most objects launched into space, after the US, Russia, and China.
    https://nitter.poast.org/tomhfh/status/1903034834114445624#m
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 72,956
    kle4 said:

    Seems random to me, what the heck is being launched?

    Interesting to see how the UK is now the country responsible for the fourth most objects launched into space, after the US, Russia, and China.
    https://nitter.poast.org/tomhfh/status/1903034834114445624#m

    Turnips as @malcolmg gets annoyed?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,894
    Nigelb said:

    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    MaxPB said:

    rcs1000 said:

    nico67 said:

    Oh what a surprise ! Looks like future US economic data provided by government agencies like the Dept Of Labour will be doctored to make everything look wonderful in Trumpland .

    That's something that should make owners of TIPS extremely concerned. If you can no longer trust the inflation data, then you are not being adequately compensated.
    It's the kind of shit that will send investor money fleeing from the US to the UK and Asia. If people think the US is cooking the books then you can't invest there. It's too risky.
    The good news is that that would solve the US's current account deficit! (Albeit at the cost of a nasty recession.)
    The question is how can current account deficits be sustained other than by selling off your assets. The US is a safe haven but over time more and more of it is owned by someone else and the returns on capital go elsewhere.
    Not only that, but because the profits from your firms and the interest on your government debt go overseas, it becomes ever harder to run a current account surplus.
    Isn't that what happened to us ?
    Yes
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,168
    Ratters said:

    Nigelb said:

    Amos Harel is probably Israel’s top military and security journalists, so if he writes that Israel might try soon to take over Gaza entirely everyone should listen. Apparently the IDF chief of staff already presented a plan to the government
    https://x.com/NadavPollak/status/1903167090103587174

    We are back in a world where countries taking over some or all of other countries by force (economic or military) is geopolitically acceptable according to the world's main policeman.

    It does not surprise me in the slightest that the Israeli government sees this as an opportunity to take action that it couldn't contemplate in the past.

    I feel for any non-combatants still living in Gaza.
    It feels like we've been moving this way for awhile now, Russia being a key culprit, then there was the Armenia-Azerbaijan business, and with the USA endorsing it for Russia (rather than at least not recognising it even when it happens) pretence may get dropped in a lot of places. I feel like we're getting closer to more dictators just admitting to being dictators too, rather than playing lip service to democracy.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,894
    I think England should seriously consider scoring a second goal.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,554
    kle4 said:

    Ratters said:

    Nigelb said:

    Amos Harel is probably Israel’s top military and security journalists, so if he writes that Israel might try soon to take over Gaza entirely everyone should listen. Apparently the IDF chief of staff already presented a plan to the government
    https://x.com/NadavPollak/status/1903167090103587174

    We are back in a world where countries taking over some or all of other countries by force (economic or military) is geopolitically acceptable according to the world's main policeman.

    It does not surprise me in the slightest that the Israeli government sees this as an opportunity to take action that it couldn't contemplate in the past.

    I feel for any non-combatants still living in Gaza.
    It feels like we've been moving this way for awhile now, Russia being a key culprit, then there was the Armenia-Azerbaijan business, and with the USA endorsing it for Russia (rather than at least not recognising it even when it happens) pretence may get dropped in a lot of places. I feel like we're getting closer to more dictators just admitting to being dictators too, rather than playing lip service to democracy.
    But how does it end? When does it end?
    Does it end?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,472
    The Trump administration is clearly not entirely ignorant of history.
    This is obviously inspired by the same logic as Morton's Fork, and that of proving witchcraft by immersion.

    Commerce secretary: No one but ‘fraudsters’ would complain about missed Social Security check

    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5208187-commerce-secretary-social-security-fraud/
    ...At one point in the wide-ranging, nearly two-hour conversation, Lutnick also said that if Social Security “didn’t send out their checks this month,” his “mother-in-law, who’s 94, she wouldn’t call and complain.”
    “She’d think something got messed up, and she’ll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining,” the billionaire businessman said.
    “Anybody who’s been in the payment system and the processes, who knows the easiest way to find the fraudster is to stop payments and listen, because whoever screams is the one stealing,” he said. “Because my mother-in-law’s not calling, come on, your mother, 80-year-olds, 90-year-olds, they trust the government.”
    “So, the people who are getting that free money, stealing the money, inappropriately, getting the money, have an inside person who’s routing the money,” he said. “They are going to yell and scream.”..

  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,472
    kle4 said:

    Seems random to me, what the heck is being launched?

    Interesting to see how the UK is now the country responsible for the fourth most objects launched into space, after the US, Russia, and China.
    https://nitter.poast.org/tomhfh/status/1903034834114445624#m

    MD's space trebuchet probably.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,424

    https://x.com/secrubio/status/1903168207050956984

    Today, I announced the designation under Section 7031(c) of former President of Argentina, Cristina Elisabet Fernandez de Kirchner, and former Argentine Minister of Planning, Julio Miguel De Vido, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office. The United States is committed to ensuring there’s accountability for corrupt officials around the world

    So why did they say they wouldn’t enforce FCPA then?
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,554
    Where will the last holdout of liberal democracy be? When the whole world has gone mad-max techno-feudal.

    Iceland? New Zealand? Uruguay?
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,306
    stodge said:

    Evening all :)

    In response to @Luckyguy1983's comments, I've actually read Kemi Badenoch's speech from earlier in the week.

    My response, fairly predictably, is to ask what she thought was going on between 2010 and 2024? It's almost as thought she is determined to airbrush fourteen years of history and government and have a cheap pop at both Ed Miliband and Ed Davey.

    Yes, you can vertainly argue energy policy generally needs more thought but for the Conservatives to come to the table now and start doing rhe thinking is a damning indictment of the waste of the years in office. What did they do? What did Kemi Badenoch, as Cabinet Minister, do about any of this?

    What she proposes is reasonable enough - I'm sure Coutinho will come up with something though for all the picking apart of other proposals, as for what a future Conservative Government might do, platitudes. The debate seems to start from where it always has - the future of the environment versus economic growth and prosperity in the present?

    That's not the place to start in my view - claiming people won't accept lower living standards (and more taxes now) for environmental protection in the future is disingenuous in extremis. Conservative might not - I suspect many others would.

    Instead of claiming it would be economically ruinous to move to Net Zero by 2050, why nost start from the premise of whether it would be environmentally disastrous not to move to Net Zero by 2050? There's an element of leading by example, as I've said, and the internal politics of Russia, China, America and India may well be more open to technological advances which can reduce environmental degradation and resulting climate impacts.

    The polling afaik indicates that people strongly support Net Zero, but strongly disapprove of any punitive measures to get there, and rightly so in my opinion.

    There are a few points that spring to mind in response to what you've said.

    It is an article of faith with Net Zero supporters that there is an early adopter advantage to forcibly decarbonising our energy grid - growing valuable new industries and 'well-paid green jobs'. This is a lie. It is actually the green industries of coal burning China that are taking off - its solar panel industry and its electric car industry to name but two. These industries in the UK are dying, at least partly due to the cost of industrial energy. In the 90s I swear I remember us actually being a fairly big manufacturer of solar panels. So what there actually seems to be is a 'late-adopter' advantage - countries that put their economic prosperity first are surging forward in green technologies (at our expense) and will then be able to afford to pick and choose the best ones.

    Nobody wants to 'follow our example' - the only example we're setting is how to fuck up our economy, and the only response we're provoking in other countries is relief that they have not foolishly followed the same path.

    I can answer your question about whether it would be environmentally ruinous not to move toward Net Zero by 2050 - No. It will make bugger all difference, as we account for 1 percent of global emmissions. It is also likely that net worldwide carbon would increase as a result of the UK meeting the 2050 target, as economic activity leaves our shores and moves to countries with more carbon intensive industries.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,288
    TimS said:

    Where will the last holdout of liberal democracy be? When the whole world has gone mad-max techno-feudal.

    Iceland? New Zealand? Uruguay?

    Denmark. They are serious about protecting their way of life.
Sign In or Register to comment.