Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
There's been an Apprenticeship Levy since 2017, and it raises £3.5 billion per annum:
The Apprenticeship Levy, a 0.5% levy on annual paybills exceeding £3 million, currently raises around £3.5 billion annually, with a portion allocated to the Department for Education (DfE) for apprenticeships in England and the remainder distributed to devolved governments.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
Sounds great, i question why its apparently so necessary to make it easy to avoid (if you are well off), but i assume millionaires will moan and move to Dubai, harming our tax rate rarher than helping it
It’s not. Governments come up with industry specific schemes like film finance that is then exploited by firms who essentially use a minimal amount of equity and buckets of debt and then claim the tax relief on the full amount.
It never works, but looks superficially like it does, and by the time the HMRC takes them through the legal process the promotors have run for the hills with their fees leaving the greedy saps on the hook for the liabilities
Note the fun bit -
Q - is the scheme legal? A - our tame KC says it can work - here is his brief
The KC gets paid, the advice always turns out to be wrong. No comeback on the KC.
Best exchange between client and lawyer about a solution to a problem.
Client: Is that solution legal?
Lawyer: It is rarely prosecuted.
It is said (within private banking) that there are certain KCs who will sign any opinion for a suitable fee.
As in the banks tell the customers that the opinions of certain lawyers are a very bad sign.
No wonder the King in Government makes so many bad decisions if that's the quality of his Counsellors!
It reminds me of this anecdote
George Bernard Shaw once asked an attractive socialite whether she’d sleep with him for a million pounds.
After she answered in the affirmative, he offered her a mere 10 shillings.
Outraged, she railed: “What do you take me for? A prostitute?”
Shaw reputedly replied: “We’ve already determined that. We’re just haggling over the price.”
Trump likes good looking people who make good TV. That's his criterion.
He admires Starmer's accent and thinks he is handsome.
Speaking to Metro, Lip reading expert Jacqui Press reveals Trump reportedly said to Starmer: ‘How are you? Nice to see you here, good journey? ‘You look good… handsome.’
And as for Starmer's wife Vic, well ,,, The US president said he was “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer's "beautiful wife".
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
It was Starmer's government who invited Trump, the King just sent the invite.
The King will almost certainly visit Canada after the election first anyway
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
It was Starmer's government who invited Trump, the King just sent the invite.
The King will almost certainly visit Canada after the election first anyway
The King should visit Canada during the state visit.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
Personally, I would completely deregulate and privatise university education. No student loans or grants from the government, no restrictions on course numbers or fees. Research funds to be allocated independently of universities so that we can grow research programmes outside universities.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
That was sort of how the polytechnics were conceived. South Bank Polytechnic was funded by the construction industry and covered all aspects of the built environment from bricklaying to town planning. But all this was lost over the years with shifting educational policy
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
It won’t be long before we start seeing the US flag being burnt on European streets . Trump is turning the US into one of the most hated nations on earth .
Not really, most African and Asian nations aren't bothered by him. The Russian, Israeli and Argentine and Italian leaders like Trump.
Yes the Chinese, Mexicans and Canadians and EU dislike his tariffs and the rest of NATO want him to do more against Putin but that is hardly the whole world
I think that's wrong, but I can't find the survey I saw - which had improved views of the USA under Trump in the Fab Four - Russia, North Korea, India and I think one other.
I don't think it has fed through yet. Give it 3 or 6 or 12 months.
Why would it? Most of Africa and Asia are non woke, don't care about a European war and it is the EU, China, Canada and Mexico hit more by Trump's tariffs than them. Your leaders are hardly liberal democrats mostly anyway.
Unless you want to emigrate to the US or have family there Trump is deporting or are Palestinian or Houthi why would he bother you?
Any number of reasons.
Trump will in due course be targeting everyone in the world, as he gets round to them. Middle developed countries will be vociferous when he comes knocking; they are the ones who have developed most over the last 3 decades under the rules-based order he wants binned.
He has already tried to shakedown the USA's former allies, and burnt down the USA's bridges. That's the best part of 40 developed democracies.
He is trying to destroy international law, so BIG MEN as he imagined he is can rule. When he attacked the International Criminal Court via an Executive Order, 77 countries publicly came out in support of it.
He is currently targeting 43 countries for travel restrictions, which is the 2025 version of his "Muslim Ban".
He thinks he bestrides the world like a colossus, with Russian, China and maybe India - colossal vanity, more like.
This is a one shot, and the shot is the USA in the foot. His main problem is that his head is stuck in about 1960 or 1970, and he's never read a book nor listened to anyone.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
Trump likes good looking people who make good TV. That's his criterion.
He admires Starmer's accent and thinks he is handsome.
Speaking to Metro, Lip reading expert Jacqui Press reveals Trump reportedly said to Starmer: ‘How are you? Nice to see you here, good journey? ‘You look good… handsome.’
And as for Starmer's wife Vic, well ,,, The US president said he was “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer's "beautiful wife".
Trump likes good looking people who make good TV. That's his criterion.
He admires Starmer's accent and thinks he is handsome.
Speaking to Metro, Lip reading expert Jacqui Press reveals Trump reportedly said to Starmer: ‘How are you? Nice to see you here, good journey? ‘You look good… handsome.’
And as for Starmer's wife Vic, well ,,, The US president said he was “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer's "beautiful wife".
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Bonkers. There is so far no date anyway. Both HM the King and the PM are in an impossible position, and how they handle it is bound to be provisional, long term and bumpy. For politics since WWII this catastrophe in relationships is both unprecedented and unpredictable, and is being run by deranged lunatics. The King of UK and Canada, and UK and Canadian leaders deserve our cross party support.
Trump likes good looking people who make good TV. That's his criterion.
He admires Starmer's accent and thinks he is handsome.
Speaking to Metro, Lip reading expert Jacqui Press reveals Trump reportedly said to Starmer: ‘How are you? Nice to see you here, good journey? ‘You look good… handsome.’
And as for Starmer's wife Vic, well ,,, The US president said he was “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer's "beautiful wife".
This is Starmer's edge with Trump. Jesus.
Just like PB, then.
No wonder he seems to like Macron. Handsomest male political leader.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Trump likes good looking people who make good TV. That's his criterion.
He admires Starmer's accent and thinks he is handsome.
Speaking to Metro, Lip reading expert Jacqui Press reveals Trump reportedly said to Starmer: ‘How are you? Nice to see you here, good journey? ‘You look good… handsome.’
And as for Starmer's wife Vic, well ,,, The US president said he was “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer's "beautiful wife".
This is Starmer's edge with Trump. Jesus.
Just like PB, then.
No wonder he seems to like Macron. Handsomest male political leader.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
We're seeing a slow but steady increase in Ukrainian military capabilities alongside declining Russian capabilities.
Which is why it's important that we do not allow sanctions to be dropped. We need to continue hollowing out the Russian economy until they have no more capacity both keep the people fed and wage war. The Russian people need to be made to face the choice of true hardship as the price of continuing the war.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Perhaps, having turned their backs, everyone should do a moonie? The police can't arrest everyone!
Could he also explain why we have unemployed Doctors then?
Quite. The NHS seems quite happy to employ foreign doctors instead of ones expensively trained in the UK for impenetrable reasons that presumably make sense to them. Even when those foreign doctors cost more than the derisory salaries we pay newly qualified medics.
Sigh.
It’s very simple
Foreign medics cost nothing to train.
U.K. trained medics come out of the NHS budget.
So in the short term (a Parliament) training in the U.K. reduces the amount of money for the NHS.
We’re training them anyway! And then refusing to employ them!
Trump likes good looking people who make good TV. That's his criterion.
He admires Starmer's accent and thinks he is handsome.
Speaking to Metro, Lip reading expert Jacqui Press reveals Trump reportedly said to Starmer: ‘How are you? Nice to see you here, good journey? ‘You look good… handsome.’
And as for Starmer's wife Vic, well ,,, The US president said he was “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer's "beautiful wife".
This is Starmer's edge with Trump. Jesus.
Just like PB, then.
No wonder he seems to like Macron. Handsomest male political leader.
Yet he doesn't like the almost stupidly pulchritudinous Justin Trudeau. Perhaps he has to be able to think, "yeah handsome guy but no more than me." Otherwise he gets angsty.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Perhaps, having turned their backs, everyone should do a moonie? The police can't arrest everyone!
Well I'm up for the lot. I shake my fist, then I wave a Canada flag, then I turn my back and finish up with a moon. He should get the message.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Perhaps, having turned their backs, everyone should do a moonie? The police can't arrest everyone!
But Kinabalu was suggesting a display of bottomless contempt.
Trump likes good looking people who make good TV. That's his criterion.
He admires Starmer's accent and thinks he is handsome.
Speaking to Metro, Lip reading expert Jacqui Press reveals Trump reportedly said to Starmer: ‘How are you? Nice to see you here, good journey? ‘You look good… handsome.’
And as for Starmer's wife Vic, well ,,, The US president said he was “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer's "beautiful wife".
This is Starmer's edge with Trump. Jesus.
Just like PB, then.
No wonder he seems to like Macron. Handsomest male political leader.
Yet he doesn't like the almost stupidly pulchritudinous Justin Trudeau. Perhaps he has to be able to think, "yeah handsome guy but no more than me." Otherwise he gets angsty.
The reason Trump hates Trudeau is because Melania cucked him with Trudeau.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Why not broadly educate adults?
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Why not broadly educate adults?
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
Trump likes good looking people who make good TV. That's his criterion.
He admires Starmer's accent and thinks he is handsome.
Speaking to Metro, Lip reading expert Jacqui Press reveals Trump reportedly said to Starmer: ‘How are you? Nice to see you here, good journey? ‘You look good… handsome.’
And as for Starmer's wife Vic, well ,,, The US president said he was “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer's "beautiful wife".
This is Starmer's edge with Trump. Jesus.
Just like PB, then.
No wonder he seems to like Macron. Handsomest male political leader.
Yet he doesn't like the almost stupidly pulchritudinous Justin Trudeau. Perhaps he has to be able to think, "yeah handsome guy but no more than me." Otherwise he gets angsty.
He didn't like Melania's obvious admiration of Trudeau. Mutual I think.
Could he also explain why we have unemployed Doctors then?
Quite. The NHS seems quite happy to employ foreign doctors instead of ones expensively trained in the UK for impenetrable reasons that presumably make sense to them. Even when those foreign doctors cost more than the derisory salaries we pay newly qualified medics.
Sigh.
It’s very simple
Foreign medics cost nothing to train.
U.K. trained medics come out of the NHS budget.
So in the short term (a Parliament) training in the U.K. reduces the amount of money for the NHS.
We’re training them anyway! And then refusing to employ them!
We have people coming out of university. Which is partly funded by student loans and general government university spend.
The expensive bit of making a doctor is the training in a teaching hospital. Which is what the U.K. has as a bottleneck. And that comes out of the NHS budget.
So increasing training places is seen as reducing funds for *more doctors and nurses NOW*
Tourism in Wales. A canal that brings 3 million people per year.
Operators of the 225-year-old Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal have warned of an "urgent" water shortage without the prospect of imminent rainfall.
It comes amid debate over how the historic attraction should secure its water supply in future after limits were placed on taking water from the environmentally-sensitive River Usk.
The Welsh government said any arrangement between the Canal & River Trust and Welsh Water would be a commercial decision in which it should play no role. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx208nj454ro
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Why not broadly educate adults?
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
Exactly. This idea of education being narrowly focused on employment is outdated. Nobody is going down the pit at 16 anymore. We all need a broad skillset to be flexible and successful across our working lives. Not to mention having the skills to counter disinformation and be an informed citizen, enjoy our leisure time, guide our children, have a fulfilling retirement etc.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Why not broadly educate adults?
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
Exactly. This idea of education being narrowly focused on employment is outdated. Nobody is going down the pit at 16 anymore. We all need a broad skillset to be flexible and successful across our working lives. Not to mention having the skills to counter disinformation and be an informed citizen, enjoy our leisure time, guide our children, have a fulfilling retirement etc.
Far from being outdated, it’s a modern idea that doesn’t go back much before New Labour. You are advocating a return to tradition.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Why not broadly educate adults?
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
Exactly. This idea of education being narrowly focused on employment is outdated. Nobody is going down the pit at 16 anymore. We all need a broad skillset to be flexible and successful across our working lives. Not to mention having the skills to counter disinformation and be an informed citizen, enjoy our leisure time, guide our children, have a fulfilling retirement etc.
Actually, I am talking about a broader education - *for work*.
The outdated idea is siloed jobs, with limited skills.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Why not broadly educate adults?
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
Exactly. This idea of education being narrowly focused on employment is outdated. Nobody is going down the pit at 16 anymore. We all need a broad skillset to be flexible and successful across our working lives. Not to mention having the skills to counter disinformation and be an informed citizen, enjoy our leisure time, guide our children, have a fulfilling retirement etc.
Far from being outdated, it’s a modern idea that doesn’t go back much before New Labour. You are advocating a return to tradition.
Not really. The whole grammar vs secondary modern split was based on the idea that most people destined for manual professions only needed a basic education. I'm advocating for the comprehensive system.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Why not broadly educate adults?
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
Exactly. This idea of education being narrowly focused on employment is outdated. Nobody is going down the pit at 16 anymore. We all need a broad skillset to be flexible and successful across our working lives. Not to mention having the skills to counter disinformation and be an informed citizen, enjoy our leisure time, guide our children, have a fulfilling retirement etc.
Actually, I am talking about a broader education - *for work*.
The outdated idea is siloed jobs, with limited skills.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
I think that Trump does bear grudges.
Indeed his life seems dominated by them and a drive for revenge.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
I think that Trump does bear grudges.
You reckon? He always struck me as such an amenable, happy-go-lucky sort.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Why not broadly educate adults?
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
Exactly. This idea of education being narrowly focused on employment is outdated. Nobody is going down the pit at 16 anymore. We all need a broad skillset to be flexible and successful across our working lives. Not to mention having the skills to counter disinformation and be an informed citizen, enjoy our leisure time, guide our children, have a fulfilling retirement etc.
Actually, I am talking about a broader education - *for work*.
The outdated idea is siloed jobs, with limited skills.
Yes I was agreeing with you!
What jobs are you guys talking about, I honestly don’t get it. With AGI looming any jobs that aren’t straight up manual will be automated in 5 years. Practically all intellectual jobs are doomed. And manual jobs won’t last much longer, robotics is racing into the future. The whole conversation on these threads exists in a world where AI isn’t coming. Watch this:
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Why not broadly educate adults?
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
Exactly. This idea of education being narrowly focused on employment is outdated. Nobody is going down the pit at 16 anymore. We all need a broad skillset to be flexible and successful across our working lives. Not to mention having the skills to counter disinformation and be an informed citizen, enjoy our leisure time, guide our children, have a fulfilling retirement etc.
Actually, I am talking about a broader education - *for work*.
The outdated idea is siloed jobs, with limited skills.
Yes I was agreeing with you!
What jobs are you guys talking about, I honestly don’t get it. With AGI looming any jobs that aren’t straight up manual will be automated in 5 years. Practically all intellectual jobs are doomed. And manual jobs won’t last much longer, robotics is racing into the future. The whole conversation on these threads exists in a world where AI isn’t coming. Watch this:
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Actually, I did know
Smartypants. OK did anyone else know? (This could go on for a long time, if I am the only one who didn't know)
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
In fairness the Greenlandic and Canadian flags next to each other would look pretty good visually.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Actually, I did know
Smartypants. OK did anyone else know? (This could go on for a long time, if I am the only one who didn't know)
I knew as well.
But only because a few weeks ago I had a "WTF is THAT" moment when looking at a group of flags in a news photo.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
I think that Trump does bear grudges.
Indeed his life seems dominated by them and a drive for revenge.
JD Vance compared Trump to Hitler. That's one forgiven right there.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Actually, I did know
Smartypants. OK did anyone else know? (This could go on for a long time, if I am the only one who didn't know)
I knew as well.
But only because a few weeks ago I had a "WTF is THAT" moment when looking at a group of flags in a news photo.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
I think that Trump does bear grudges.
Indeed his life seems dominated by them and a drive for revenge.
JD Vance compared Trump to Hitler. That's one forgiven right there.
Trump likes to humiliate his victims and have them crawl to him.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
I think that Trump does bear grudges.
Indeed his life seems dominated by them and a drive for revenge.
JD Vance compared Trump to Hitler. That's one forgiven right there.
Not to mention various indiscreet Lab tweeters. Like any good sociopath Trump let’s go of grudges if the sinner repents and grovels to him.
Of all the modes of transport not to get on in a developing country that might be top of the list.
I went on a submarine of the same class (I think) in Tenerife, some years ago.
That was after I had a chat with the captain and had a look at the general maintenance. Which was of a very high order.
"I would like to have seen Montana..."
The captain was very frank about (and proud of) their safety measures -
- shallow dives in areas with a scuba reachable bottom. Sun rated for a lot more - Massive reserves of air - Accompanying support boat and divers. Complete with lift bags capable of pulling the sub to the surface on their own. - Ascent breathing sets for everyone on board.
We're seeing a slow but steady increase in Ukrainian military capabilities alongside declining Russian capabilities.
If only POTUS election had been this November and not last. Russia war machine might not last another full year.
The same might have been true had Biden not slowtimed so many weapons supply decisions. The spin (for example) that the F16s wouldn't provide much increased capacity is now clearly nonsense.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
I think that Trump does bear grudges.
Indeed his life seems dominated by them and a drive for revenge.
JD Vance compared Trump to Hitler. That's one forgiven right there.
Trump likes to humiliate his victims and have them crawl to him.
Vance was quite willing to kiss arse.
Rubio; Cruz; Graham... In fact most GOP politicians.
The real trick is managing to do so while maintaining some political independence. Starmer and Zelensky are two very different examples of that.
There's going to be a scandal on this when the MSM notice get off their arses and join up some dots.
Here's the Yacht Report a couple of months ago talking about 10 Egyptian dive boats which have sunk in the last 7 years they know about - 4 in the last 2 years. Poorly trained crew, poor or missing safety equipment, no guest drills, poor treatment by the authorities, asked to sign liability wavers in Arabic etc.
Of all the modes of transport not to get on in a developing country that might be top of the list.
The tourists are apparently Russian. Conspiracy theory incoming in 3, 2, 1 ...
Russians and submarines, what could possibly go wrong?
"I miss the peace of fishing like when I was a boy. Forty years I've been at sea. A war at sea. A war with no battles, no monuments... only casualties. I widowed her the day I married her. My wife died while I was at sea, you know."
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Actually, I did know
Smartypants. OK did anyone else know? (This could go on for a long time, if I am the only one who didn't know)
The prevalence of flag emojis on X tends to train you. Though frankly I forget most of them within a couple of weeks.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
I think that Trump does bear grudges.
Indeed his life seems dominated by them and a drive for revenge.
JD Vance compared Trump to Hitler. That's one forgiven right there.
Trump likes to humiliate his victims and have them crawl to him.
Vance was quite willing to kiss arse.
He should have just told him was meant as a compliment - quite plausible under current circumstances
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
I think that Trump does bear grudges.
Indeed his life seems dominated by them and a drive for revenge.
JD Vance compared Trump to Hitler. That's one forgiven right there.
Not to mention various indiscreet Lab tweeters. Like any good sociopath Trump let’s go of grudges if the sinner repents and grovels to him.
Though when I asked our Medical School about increased numbers of students as part of the NHS plan, they said there was no expansion.
Tumbleweed from the DoH. It's cheaper and easier to import Nigerians and Egyptians.
Unless things have changed a lot since my own working days, the lack of interest in training our own people is a national trait in all walks of life.
Good morning, everybody.
One of the main reasons for our difficulties in competing economically with other countries is the relatively high cost of overheads here. This is due largely to poor infrastructure and a lack of training.
It is difficult, though not impossible to do something about the former. The latter appears to be a cultural thing. 'We fly by the seat of our pants'. Hmm,yes...and not very well in the main.
Businesses which invest in training often find their newly trained workers depart for other businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay.
Amusingly those departed workers sometimes regret their decision as they discover that businesses which do not invest in training but offer higher pay are also unpleasant places to work at.
The flip side of that is that businesses are quicker to sack people in the interests of maximising shareholder value and supposed efficiency. Businesses show less loyalty to staff; staff show less loyalty to businesses. Reduced social trust all round.
In the building industry there is already a training levy.
I advocate merging all training and higher education into universities.
This would get rid of the academic/blue collar divide - degrees for all. Modular, part time in the mix as well.
I would go further, and demand a mix in all degrees - Elizabethan Poetry with a side of Welding.
A plumbing degree with a side of Moral Philosophy.
A broad education is what school is for, universities are training for academia and the professions and ex polys and apprenticeships are supposed to train for trades
I am sure this is right, but it is still worth checking out a group of 16 year old school leavers as to how they are getting on with Elizabethan poetry and moral philosophy to make sure standards are being kept up.
It's probably all very Shakespearean and Chaucerian (?) in the bushes down the local park, and whilst parents are not around.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Why not broadly educate adults?
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
Exactly. This idea of education being narrowly focused on employment is outdated. Nobody is going down the pit at 16 anymore. We all need a broad skillset to be flexible and successful across our working lives. Not to mention having the skills to counter disinformation and be an informed citizen, enjoy our leisure time, guide our children, have a fulfilling retirement etc.
Actually, I am talking about a broader education - *for work*.
The outdated idea is siloed jobs, with limited skills.
Yes I was agreeing with you!
What jobs are you guys talking about, I honestly don’t get it. With AGI looming any jobs that aren’t straight up manual will be automated in 5 years. Practically all intellectual jobs are doomed. And manual jobs won’t last much longer, robotics is racing into the future. The whole conversation on these threads exists in a world where AI isn’t coming. Watch this:
I shall wait and see, and accept that the world of work won't stand still. But I file all suggestions about the abolition of work/jobs in the future in the same file as I put the suggestion that there will be permanent human communities on other planets.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Very Polish Deathstar.
I know the Greenland flag well, but that’s because I’ve been to Greenland. Am I unique in PB in that?
The flag is one of the great flags of the world. Beautiful in its simplicity - yet it actually isn’t simple at all. It draws on multiple Inuit sun and moon myths
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
I think that Trump does bear grudges.
Indeed his life seems dominated by them and a drive for revenge.
JD Vance compared Trump to Hitler. That's one forgiven right there.
Perhaps Trump took it as a compliment. Perhaps Vance meant it as a compliment.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Very Polish Deathstar.
I know the Greenland flag well, but that’s because I’ve been to Greenland. Am I unique in PB in that?
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Very Polish Deathstar.
I know the Greenland flag well, but that’s because I’ve been to Greenland. Am I unique in PB in that?
"Have you seen a grown man naked?"
I certainly haven't been to Greenland .
I'll have to join the US Marines, then I might get a trip.
In the myth, Malina, the sun goddess, and Anningan, her brother, the moon god, lived together in a large communal house. One night, Anningan attacked or violated Malina (depending on the telling). Horrified and furious, she fled, grabbing a torch and racing into the sky to become the sun. Anningan followed with his own torch - thus becoming the moon.
But his torch was dimmer, and he is always chasing her, trying to catch her and repeat the assault, which explains why the sun and moon are never seen together.
Some versions say that when Anningan becomes too thin and weary from the chase, he disappears for a few days to eat and regain strength - a mythic explanation for the phases of the moon.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
He'll get it no matter what and will be slavered over while he is here. It's delusional to think otherwise.
Neither the British government or the (Not My) king has dared to say a word about his belligerence toward Canada and Denmark. Anybody anticipating even a pugil of moral courage from SKS or KC3 now is heading for disappointment.
This is a consequence of the US being the one "indispensable" country and Europe being dependent on US goodwill for security. Starmer and KCIII are being responsible in attempting to mitigate the impact of Trumpian madness.
The only thing that works with Trump is flattery - as Putin has so amply demonstrated.
Trump is a shit stain, and telling him so would be satisfying.
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
He’s also a sociopath, and the good thing with most sociopaths (as we’ve seen with Trump) is they struggle to bear grudges. They take offence, but it’s short lived and is water off a duck’s back, because they really don’t worry much about what others think about them.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
I think that Trump does bear grudges.
Indeed his life seems dominated by them and a drive for revenge.
JD Vance compared Trump to Hitler. That's one forgiven right there.
Trump likes to humiliate his victims and have them crawl to him.
Vance was quite willing to kiss arse.
Rubio; Cruz; Graham... In fact most GOP politicians.
The real trick is managing to do so while maintaining some political independence. Starmer and Zelensky are two very different examples of that.
Macron has managed it best so far. Very clearly independent, publicly contradicted Trump in the Oval Office, yet still seems to have Trump’s ear and some sort of grudging respect.
In the myth, Malina, the sun goddess, and Anningan, her brother, the moon god, lived together in a large communal house. One night, Anningan attacked or violated Malina (depending on the telling). Horrified and furious, she fled, grabbing a torch and racing into the sky to become the sun. Anningan followed with his own torch - thus becoming the moon.
But his torch was dimmer, and he is always chasing her, trying to catch her and repeat the assault, which explains why the sun and moon are never seen together.
Some versions say that when Anningan becomes too thin and weary from the chase, he disappears for a few days to eat and regain strength - a mythic explanation for the phases of the moon.
Sun and moon come together for a solar eclipse, I believe.
In the myth, Malina, the sun goddess, and Anningan, her brother, the moon god, lived together in a large communal house. One night, Anningan attacked or violated Malina (depending on the telling). Horrified and furious, she fled, grabbing a torch and racing into the sky to become the sun. Anningan followed with his own torch - thus becoming the moon.
But his torch was dimmer, and he is always chasing her, trying to catch her and repeat the assault, which explains why the sun and moon are never seen together.
Some versions say that when Anningan becomes too thin and weary from the chase, he disappears for a few days to eat and regain strength - a mythic explanation for the phases of the moon.
Sun and moon come together for a solar eclipse, I believe.
Knowing the gloominess of Inuit mythology they probably view that as a rape
I hadn't realised we took some part (albeit small) in the Houthi strike.
There is a slight twist to the #signalgate scandal. The USN and USMC have always preferred the probe and drogue method of air refuelling. Because the USAF prefers the boom method, UK tankers spend quite a bit of time refuelling USN & USMC aircraft... https://x.com/gregbagwell/status/1905173263312896251
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Very Polish Deathstar.
I know the Greenland flag well, but that’s because I’ve been to Greenland. Am I unique in PB in that?
The flag is one of the great flags of the world. Beautiful in its simplicity - yet it actually isn’t simple at all. It draws on multiple Inuit sun and moon myths
My wife and I have been to Greenland so not quite unique in that respect
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Very Polish Deathstar.
I know the Greenland flag well, but that’s because I’ve been to Greenland. Am I unique in PB in that?
The flag is one of the great flags of the world. Beautiful in its simplicity - yet it actually isn’t simple at all. It draws on multiple Inuit sun and moon myths
My wife and I have been to Greenland so not quite unique in that respect
So far then, we've got Big_G and spouse, Leon, and the JD Vances.
The quality of visitors to Greenland is somewhat variable.
I hadn't realised we took some part (albeit small) in the Houthi strike.
There is a slight twist to the #signalgate scandal. The USN and USMC have always preferred the probe and drogue method of air refuelling. Because the USAF prefers the boom method, UK tankers spend quite a bit of time refuelling USN & USMC aircraft... https://x.com/gregbagwell/status/1905173263312896251
Victory for those wanting to import more oil and gas - and those countries that export the stuff to us.
On that score, this is an interesting take. Perhaps over generous to Reeves.
My most unpopular opinion in British politics is that I think Reeves is doing a decent job under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. I think raising NICs was a “least bad” tax rise, and these spending cuts seem judicious, though I would go further on welfare reform.
Most of the govt’s problems are indeed not of its own making. And on planning and infrastructure it is moving in the right direction, albeit far too slowly and in ways that risk maximising political pain for minimal economic gain. It can do much better without hurting itself politically here. Nuclear is an open question for now.
But there are two massive exceptions: the workers’ rights bill, which will adopt similar policies that have locked Europe into economic irrelevance, and the Clean Power 2030 target, which will drive our energy prices even higher than they already are.
In these two cases, the government is adopting policies that are utterly anathema to economic growth, and hence to everything else it says it wants to do. Tax rises and spending cuts will both be larger and more painful than necessary to pay for these policies.
Unless the government reckons with these two self-inflicted wounds, I do not believe it when it says growth is its overriding priority. And while I sympathise with the situation Rachel Reeves has found herself in, she can’t honestly say that our problems are outside her and her colleagues’ control. https://x.com/s8mb/status/1904906936849486198
Right now the Guardian website has four stories at the top, all different versions of “Rachel Reeves is a cruel, lying, incompetent clown”
Unbelievable hostility to a Labour Chancellor. I wonder if Labour’s polling might dip below 20
I know that it's regarded as a political no-no, but I do wonder if Sir Keir would be better served shifting her to the Foreign Office sooner rather than later and getting Wes in. I don't think I've seen as CoE lose every modicum of goodwill so quickly and so comprehensively. Norman Lamont perhaps, but even that's a close-run thing.
Right now the Guardian website has four stories at the top, all different versions of “Rachel Reeves is a cruel, lying, incompetent clown”
Unbelievable hostility to a Labour Chancellor. I wonder if Labour’s polling might dip below 20
I know that it's regarded as a political no-no, but I do wonder if Sir Keir would be better served shifting her to the Foreign Office sooner rather than later and getting Wes in. I don't think I've seen as CoE lose every modicum of goodwill so quickly and so comprehensively. Norman Lamont perhaps, but even that's a close-run thing.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 13s Question. If Trump continues to impose tariffs. If he continues to support Putin. If he continues to threaten our allies and NATO partners. Does he still get rewarded with his state visit. Or does he actually have to do something for us, to earn it.
Even for Hodges, this is obtuse. Fwiw, I thought it ill-advised to invite President Trump but state visits are not doled out to nice children. Hodges has confused the King with Father Christmas.
The way it's going the police might have something to say.
Short of a horse drawn carriage driving down the Mall with Axel Rudakubana it's difficult to imagine a less easily controlled event
I'll be out shaking my fist if it goes ahead. In fact I hope it does because I'll enjoy that.
I would hope that if it goes ahead there isn't serious disorder. Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Great idea. Shaking fists shows anger whereas that is more a sign of bottomless contempt, hence more powerful. It's the equivalent of when Trump comes on tv not shouting at the screen, or throwing things at it, but just casually turning it off or switching to a sports channel or a soap.
Waving Ukranian, Canadian and Greenland flags is the way to go.
I think that is a great idea, but did anyone here know (before looking it up) what a Greenland flag looked like. I didn't and it is rather interestingly odd.
Very Polish Deathstar.
I know the Greenland flag well, but that’s because I’ve been to Greenland. Am I unique in PB in that?
The flag is one of the great flags of the world. Beautiful in its simplicity - yet it actually isn’t simple at all. It draws on multiple Inuit sun and moon myths
My wife and I have been to Greenland so not quite unique in that respect
So far then, we've got Big_G and spouse, Leon, and the JD Vances.
The quality of visitors to Greenland is somewhat variable.
Comments
The Apprenticeship Levy, a 0.5% levy on annual paybills exceeding £3 million, currently raises around £3.5 billion annually, with a portion allocated to the Department for Education (DfE) for apprenticeships in England and the remainder distributed to devolved governments.
https://feweek.co.uk/apprenticeship-levy-cash-cow/
George Bernard Shaw once asked an attractive socialite whether she’d sleep with him for a million pounds.
After she answered in the affirmative, he offered her a mere 10 shillings.
Outraged, she railed: “What do you take me for? A prostitute?”
Shaw reputedly replied: “We’ve already determined that. We’re just haggling over the price.”
He admires Starmer's accent and thinks he is handsome.
Speaking to Metro, Lip reading expert Jacqui Press reveals Trump reportedly said to Starmer: ‘How are you? Nice to see you here, good journey? ‘You look good… handsome.’
And as for Starmer's wife Vic, well ,,,
The US president said he was “very impressed” with Sir Keir Starmer's "beautiful wife".
This is Starmer's edge with Trump. Jesus.
The King will almost certainly visit Canada after the election first anyway
https://x.com/stvcolin/status/1905196246400131524?s=46&t=fJymV-V84rexmlQMLXHHJQ
But all this was lost over the years with shifting educational policy
But, it could push him into siding further with Russia, so holding one's tongue is the sensible thing for SKS to do.
Controlling that, especially in those circumstances, would lower the reputation of the police even further.
Everyone turning their backs as Trump passes would be better.
Trump will in due course be targeting everyone in the world, as he gets round to them. Middle developed countries will be vociferous when he comes knocking; they are the ones who have developed most over the last 3 decades under the rules-based order he wants binned.
He has already tried to shakedown the USA's former allies, and burnt down the USA's bridges. That's the best part of 40 developed democracies.
He is trying to destroy international law, so BIG MEN as he imagined he is can rule. When he attacked the International Criminal Court via an Executive Order, 77 countries publicly came out in support of it.
He is currently targeting 43 countries for travel restrictions, which is the 2025 version of his "Muslim Ban".
He thinks he bestrides the world like a colossus, with Russian, China and maybe India - colossal vanity, more like.
This is a one shot, and the shot is the USA in the foot. His main problem is that his head is stuck in about 1960 or 1970, and he's never read a book nor listened to anyone.
I won't comment on standards being .. er .. kept up, but I do recall Mercutio, who seems quite contemporary.
Which means we can be selectively combative and accommodating. On tariff and trade policy we need to meet fire with fire, at least once it becomes clear there will be no UK exemptions (it seems clear already). On Ukraine and foreign policy the triangulation strategy probably works, for now. But with great care taken on intelligence sharing and a concerted effort to wean ourselves off dependency.
Ukraine's general staff claims that last week's drone strike on Russia's Engels-2 bomber airbase destroyed nearly 100 air-launched cruise missiles.
Independent imagery confirmed that the strike leveled a Russian ammunition depot on the base.
https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/1905137479230832978?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1905137479230832978|twgr^6a7f099db8b8e1c52779c5c6214453f80e8dd372|twcon^s1_&ref_url=https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2025/03/27/nearly-100-russian-cruise-missiles-lost-in-strike-on-engels-2/
We're seeing a slow but steady increase in Ukrainian military capabilities alongside declining Russian capabilities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkyAkXbOA44
He's very northern English - "the boffins have really pulled their fingers out."
The only thing he can remember is a grudge.
A builder who did some work for me, recently, had studied philosophy. Which had informed the way he did business - objective goals rather than process.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/clynd93449kt
For some, it's probably too woke.
Edit: Beaten to it by Foxy.
The expensive bit of making a doctor is the training in a teaching hospital. Which is what the U.K. has as a bottleneck. And that comes out of the NHS budget.
So increasing training places is seen as reducing funds for *more doctors and nurses NOW*
Operators of the 225-year-old Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal have warned of an "urgent" water shortage without the prospect of imminent rainfall.
It comes amid debate over how the historic attraction should secure its water supply in future after limits were placed on taking water from the environmentally-sensitive River Usk.
The Welsh government said any arrangement between the Canal & River Trust and Welsh Water would be a commercial decision in which it should play no role.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx208nj454ro
That was after I had a chat with the captain and had a look at the general maintenance. Which was of a very high order.
The outdated idea is siloed jobs, with limited skills.
The degradation of Russian military capabilities is part of the reason the MAGA crowd are so desperate for a ceasefire.
https://x.com/googledeepmind/status/1902349152249319670?s=46&t=bulOICNH15U6kB0MwE6Lfw
Conspiracy theory incoming in 3, 2, 1 ...
But only because a few weeks ago I had a "WTF is THAT" moment when looking at a group of flags in a news photo.
And @Leon has trained me to track down sources.
And tastes a bit like chocolate
Vance was quite willing to kiss arse.
Booooo! What a swizz.....
https://www.sefton.gov.uk/your-council/councillors-meetings-decisions/elections-in-sefton/2025-elections-in-sefton/
- shallow dives in areas with a scuba reachable bottom. Sun rated for a lot more
- Massive reserves of air
- Accompanying support boat and divers. Complete with lift bags capable of pulling the sub to the surface on their own.
- Ascent breathing sets for everyone on board.
The spin (for example) that the F16s wouldn't provide much increased capacity is now clearly nonsense.
In fact most GOP politicians.
The real trick is managing to do so while maintaining some political independence.
Starmer and Zelensky are two very different examples of that.
noticeget off their arses and join up some dots.Here's the Yacht Report a couple of months ago talking about 10 Egyptian dive boats which have sunk in the last 7 years they know about - 4 in the last 2 years. Poorly trained crew, poor or missing safety equipment, no guest drills, poor treatment by the authorities, asked to sign liability wavers in Arabic etc.
https://youtu.be/nZxf2p6V2Oo?t=147
Climate activist group declares an end to controversial protests after Government adopts key demand to halt new oil and gas licences
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/just-stop-oil-direct-action-parliament-square-climate-change-b1219191.html
Though frankly I forget most of them within a couple of weeks.
The flag is one of the great flags of the world. Beautiful in its simplicity - yet it actually isn’t simple at all. It draws on multiple Inuit sun and moon myths
I'll have to join the US Marines, then I might get a trip.
In the myth, Malina, the sun goddess, and Anningan, her brother, the moon god, lived together in a large communal house. One night, Anningan attacked or violated Malina (depending on the telling). Horrified and furious, she fled, grabbing a torch and racing into the sky to become the sun. Anningan followed with his own torch - thus becoming the moon.
But his torch was dimmer, and he is always chasing her, trying to catch her and repeat the assault, which explains why the sun and moon are never seen together.
Some versions say that when Anningan becomes too thin and weary from the chase, he disappears for a few days to eat and regain strength - a mythic explanation for the phases of the moon.
I wonder if that’s because the sun is viewed as more rare, precious, delicate, elusive, that far north = female
For several months all they have is the stern male moon, staring down at their icy wasteland. The nurturing, mothering sun is gone. They are abandoned
Unbelievable hostility to a Labour Chancellor. I wonder if Labour’s polling might dip below 20
There is a slight twist to the #signalgate scandal. The USN and USMC have always preferred the probe and drogue method of air refuelling. Because the USAF prefers the boom method, UK tankers spend quite a bit of time refuelling USN & USMC aircraft...
https://x.com/gregbagwell/status/1905173263312896251
The quality of visitors to Greenland is somewhat variable.
Perhaps over generous to Reeves.
My most unpopular opinion in British politics is that I think Reeves is doing a decent job under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. I think raising NICs was a “least bad” tax rise, and these spending cuts seem judicious, though I would go further on welfare reform.
Most of the govt’s problems are indeed not of its own making. And on planning and infrastructure it is moving in the right direction, albeit far too slowly and in ways that risk maximising political pain for minimal economic gain. It can do much better without hurting itself politically here. Nuclear is an open question for now.
But there are two massive exceptions: the workers’ rights bill, which will adopt similar policies that have locked Europe into economic irrelevance, and the Clean Power 2030 target, which will drive our energy prices even higher than they already are.
In these two cases, the government is adopting policies that are utterly anathema to economic growth, and hence to everything else it says it wants to do. Tax rises and spending cuts will both be larger and more painful than necessary to pay for these policies.
Unless the government reckons with these two self-inflicted wounds, I do not believe it when it says growth is its overriding priority. And while I sympathise with the situation Rachel Reeves has found herself in, she can’t honestly say that our problems are outside her and her colleagues’ control.
https://x.com/s8mb/status/1904906936849486198