PB Brains Trust, Scottish contingent: I'm going to be up your way with kids (2 and 5) for a week or so in mid-April. Any particular recommendations to keep them entertained? We'll be centred around Fort William/Glencoe but happy to travel a couple of hours away. Thanks!
Interesting challenge. My usual recommendation of "run the Aonach Eagach" is probably inappropriate at that age. Something like Ardnamurchan is a long drive, FYI.
Get a standard ScotRail service to Mallaig and back.
You could include a boat trip to Knoydart (famous pub)
Eigg is a perfect bitesize island for kids. Drive + fun ferry for a day trip.
Boat trip around Arisaig used to be a thing. Loads of seals and seabirds etc
Neptune's staircase is cool
Oban is much nicer for tourists than Ft William. Loads of ferries, ice cream, seafood. Kerrera has a cute ferry.
Cycle around Lismore? Probably a bit young.
Castle Stalker
Watch Chamber of Secrets then go to Glenfinnan. The viaduct is an easy walk away. Fun wee museum at the train station.
All good recommendations, but I demur on Ardnamurchan. Google maps says it is 1 hour 50 mins drive from Ft William
AND WHAT A DRIVE IT WILL BE
You go through Strontian....
A perfect day out for a family, I'd say, if you include LOTS of stops for things, and the weather is at least reasonably kind. A proper adventure. And the feeling you get at Sanna at the end of the road. Wow
Also, Kilchoan is the home of Hamza Yassin - Ranger Hamza of CBeebies.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population has an average IQ of 100
not quite it's 99.7, median is 99.1 which should tell you that there your random person on off the street is going to be of blow average intelligence but if you pick someone bright they may be slightly brighter than you would expect.
Bright is a good word. I like the subtly different words for those of above average intelligence. They all mean something slightly different.
Bright: sparky, think quickly, natural talent but may be as yet unrefined. Intelligent: not easily tricked. good at school. Kind of neutral Clever: more refined version of bright. A touch of direction to the brightness Smart: streetwise, use their cleverness for mercenary purposes, won’t be easily tricked Intellectual: a thinker. Maybe a bit unworldly Wise: has seen it all. Advanced in age, or experience. Thoughtful Precocious: bright, but in a slightly irritating manner Gifted: a bit like precocious, but a bit weirder and a bit less irritating
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
NEW: @FT obtained new US proposal. The Trump admin is pushing to gain sweeping control over all of Ukraine’s major minerals and energy assets, while offering Kyiv no security guarantees, in an aggressive expansion of previous demands... https://x.com/ChristopherJM/status/1905297287221272735
I have been saying for weeks now, the US Ukraine minerals deal will never be signed - the reason is US industry are not at all interested in it - and this development absolutely proves me right. Trump Whitehouse have gone totally cold on signing this.
Trump will be drilling in Greenland before 2028 - the reason is US industry are totally excited by the prospect and lining up to be part of it.
Which bits of US industry are incredibly keen on drilling in Greenland?
The ones which extract rare earths and secure them for America.
The first thing you need to know about rare earths is that they're not rare.
And provided we retain a global market, even the U.S. cornering its own supply is largely irrelevant and just reduces costs.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
You’re only pretending to be supportive of Trump for trolling purposes. Like Just WilliamGlenn. It just happens to suit the mood this evening.
I am not supportive of Trump; I do see why he appeals to many Americans, and I very definitely see why a lot of Americans prefer him - for all his enormous flaws, even now - to the utter clownshow of lying, hypocritical Woke that is the Democrats
And that is the choice American voters had: it was him or Kamala Harris, who was only on the ballot because the Dems consciously lied about Biden's dementia to the entire country
Despite the Dems’ best efforts to hobble themselves in the last term, and despite their incumbency handicap, they weren’t far off in the popular vote or congress. So I expect and hope the prospect of Trump squatting like a toad over American politics will vanish as quickly as it did for Boris.
However, you are right that a lot of Americans - tens, maybe hundreds of millions of them - will continue to prefer him until the end. He slays their enemies. And their enemies are not the Russians, or the Chinese. Or even the EU. Their enemies are the libs.
The thing is, they really are
Just as the Woke Blob really IS the enemy in the UK, now. Far worse than Putin. They are destroying us through legal and illegal migration, through a corrupted and perverse judiciary, through evil undermining of natural patriotism, through leftoid Marxist nonsense taught in schools, and multiple other ways. They are destroying the country
If I didn't have a nice life and kids I might take up arms against them, if I could find them. Americans have arms, and they are allowed to own and use them, the Founding Fathers were right to enshrine that in the Constitution, along with Free Speech
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
Do you think if JD Vance walked around Glasgow tomorrow everyone would just ignore him?
That's your answer?
Maybe the people I mix with are unrepresentative but the Vance/Trump ambush and attempted humiliation of Zelensky has made a deep impression on just about everyone, I'd say. And not in a good way.
Bradford is seriously cheap. Nice-ish city centre pub: four pound fifty for a pint and some nuts. Fairly quite mind - the group of women misusing the word 'literally' have been replaced by a very very affectionate couple who appear to have come out largely to snog and grope. I'm quite charmed - it feels very teenage: but they must be in their 40s. The only other people in sight are a mother/daughter combo getting steadliy and happily and quietly sloshed.
£4.50 for a pint is cheap? Seems quite expensive to me.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
You’re only pretending to be supportive of Trump for trolling purposes. Like Just WilliamGlenn. It just happens to suit the mood this evening.
I am not supportive of Trump; I do see why he appeals to many Americans, and I very definitely see why a lot of Americans prefer him - for all his enormous flaws, even now - to the utter clownshow of lying, hypocritical Woke that is the Democrats
And that is the choice American voters had: it was him or Kamala Harris, who was only on the ballot because the Dems consciously lied about Biden's dementia to the entire country
Despite the Dems’ best efforts to hobble themselves in the last term, and despite their incumbency handicap, they weren’t far off in the popular vote or congress. So I expect and hope the prospect of Trump squatting like a toad over American politics will vanish as quickly as it did for Boris.
However, you are right that a lot of Americans - tens, maybe hundreds of millions of them - will continue to prefer him until the end. He slays their enemies. And their enemies are not the Russians, or the Chinese. Or even the EU. Their enemies are the libs.
The thing is, they really are
Just as the Woke Blob really IS the enemy in the UK, now. Far worse than Putin. They are destroying us through legal and illegal migration, through a corrupted and perverse judiciary, through evil undermining of natural patriotism, through leftoid Marxist nonsense taught in schools, and multiple other ways. They are destroying the country
If I didn't have a nice life and kids I might take up arms against them, if I could find them. Americans have arms, and they are allowed to own and use them, the Founding Fathers were right to enshrine that in the Constitution, along with Free Speech
People have been levelling the same complaints for 70 years or more. In the 1950s and 1960s they called it 'the establishment', now people call it 'the blob'. It's the same tedious drivel repeated over and over.
Bradford is seriously cheap. Nice-ish city centre pub: four pound fifty for a pint and some nuts. Fairly quite mind - the group of women misusing the word 'literally' have been replaced by a very very affectionate couple who appear to have come out largely to snog and grope. I'm quite charmed - it feels very teenage: but they must be in their 40s. The only other people in sight are a mother/daughter combo getting steadliy and happily and quietly sloshed.
Perhaps the best British film of the Eighties was set and shot in Bradford.
Current Bradford detective series Virdee is quite good, but let down by a sometimes ropy script.
The brilliant British New Wave classic "Room at the Top" (1958) was mostly filmed and set in Bradford too.
A great film, seething with working class anger and misogynistic male rage.
Couldn't agree with you more, Foxy. And Mrs PtP would be delighted to hear that. Her Dad wrote the screenplay.
An excellent screenplay it is too, it gets the best out of the book, which itself is a postwar British classic.
When the Studio decided to go ahead with the film they asked Jack Clayton to direct it and sent him the script. He thought it was badly written though, and asked his friend, novelist Mordecai Richler, to rewrite it, which he did.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
Do you think if JD Vance walked around Glasgow tomorrow everyone would just ignore him?
That's your answer?
Maybe the people I mix with are unrepresentative but the Vance/Trump ambush and attempted humiliation of Zelensky has made a deep impression on just about everyone, I'd say. And not in a good way.
The YouGov question asks what are the top 3 issues that face the country. I'm furious about how Trump/Vance/Musk have treated Ukraine, but even I would have it towards the bottom of the list.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
Yes, I think that's true. People don't really care for the clown show in America or the tragedy in in the Ukraine. Not much for the genocide in Gaza either. So I agree that it isn't working for Starmer or harming Farage.
It isn't that people agree with them, but more that party leaders drag their voters (most of whom choose their party emotionally, or by vibe) to supporting positions of the leaders. Starmer gets it wrong here by getting the vibe of his party so wrong that it bewilders and disconcerts Labour supporters.
Bradford is seriously cheap. Nice-ish city centre pub: four pound fifty for a pint and some nuts. Fairly quite mind - the group of women misusing the word 'literally' have been replaced by a very very affectionate couple who appear to have come out largely to snog and grope. I'm quite charmed - it feels very teenage: but they must be in their 40s. The only other people in sight are a mother/daughter combo getting steadliy and happily and quietly sloshed.
Perhaps the best British film of the Eighties was set and shot in Bradford.
Current Bradford detective series Virdee is quite good, but let down by a sometimes ropy script.
The brilliant British New Wave classic "Room at the Top" (1958) was mostly filmed and set in Bradford too.
A great film, seething with working class anger and misogynistic male rage.
Couldn't agree with you more, Foxy. And Mrs PtP would be delighted to hear that. Her Dad wrote the screenplay.
An excellent screenplay it is too, it gets the best out of the book, which itself is a postwar British classic.
When the Studio decided to go ahead with the film they asked Jack Clayton to direct it and sent him the script. He thought it was badly written though, and asked his friend, novelist Mordecai Richler, to rewrite it, which he did.
He wrote great dialogue. Glad you appreciated it.
Your wife is the daughter of Mordecai Richler?!
You didn't know that?
Shocked.
Actually, I think maybe I did know that. But somehow mislayed it (life has been hectic)
Nonetheless, I'm impressed all over again
Noted with thanks.
I never met him. He died a few years before I met her. I love his books, and wish I had known him, but I doubt he would have been impressed by his new son-in-law.
Btw, his wife, Florence, used to live in Sandy Lane, near Jack Straws Castle. Is that the same place you had the party?
Leon is talking about an overpriced and overrated hotel in Barbados not the turning opposite Jack Straws Castle in Hampstead
Bradford is seriously cheap. Nice-ish city centre pub: four pound fifty for a pint and some nuts. Fairly quite mind - the group of women misusing the word 'literally' have been replaced by a very very affectionate couple who appear to have come out largely to snog and grope. I'm quite charmed - it feels very teenage: but they must be in their 40s. The only other people in sight are a mother/daughter combo getting steadliy and happily and quietly sloshed.
Perhaps the best British film of the Eighties was set and shot in Bradford.
Current Bradford detective series Virdee is quite good, but let down by a sometimes ropy script.
The brilliant British New Wave classic "Room at the Top" (1958) was mostly filmed and set in Bradford too.
A great film, seething with working class anger and misogynistic male rage.
Couldn't agree with you more, Foxy. And Mrs PtP would be delighted to hear that. Her Dad wrote the screenplay.
An excellent screenplay it is too, it gets the best out of the book, which itself is a postwar British classic.
When the Studio decided to go ahead with the film they asked Jack Clayton to direct it and sent him the script. He thought it was badly written though, and asked his friend, novelist Mordecai Richler, to rewrite it, which he did.
He wrote great dialogue. Glad you appreciated it.
Your wife is the daughter of Mordecai Richler?!
You didn't know that?
Shocked.
Actually, I think maybe I did know that. But somehow mislayed it (life has been hectic)
Nonetheless, I'm impressed all over again
Noted with thanks.
I never met him. He died a few years before I met her. I love his books, and wish I had known him, but I doubt he would have been impressed by his new son-in-law.
Btw, his wife, Florence, used to live in Sandy Lane, near Jack Straws Castle. Is that the same place you had the party?
Leon is talking about an overpriced and overrated hotel in Barbados not the turning opposite Jack Straws Castle in Hampstead
Indeed. And I agree. Sandy Lane is very pleasant - but given how much it costs, it should be way more than that
These days the true ultra-luxe is almost all in the Indian Ocean. Maldives and Seychelles, specifically. If you are looking to spunk loads of money on an absurdly expensive holiday, that's where you should go
As a coda to my adventure in Bradford: after I met wife and daughters after the show, and walked back to the car, we passed a man walking his ferret. Made our nights.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
As a coda to my adventure in Bradford: after I met wife and daughters after the show, and walked back to the car, we passed a man walking his ferret. Made our nights.
Preposterous. Proper Yorkshire folk don't walk their ferrets. We keep them down our trousers.
PB Brains Trust, Scottish contingent: I'm going to be up your way with kids (2 and 5) for a week or so in mid-April. Any particular recommendations to keep them entertained? We'll be centred around Fort William/Glencoe but happy to travel a couple of hours away. Thanks!
Interesting challenge. My usual recommendation of "run the Aonach Eagach" is probably inappropriate at that age. Something like Ardnamurchan is a long drive, FYI.
Get a standard ScotRail service to Mallaig and back.
You could include a boat trip to Knoydart (famous pub)
Eigg is a perfect bitesize island for kids. Drive + fun ferry for a day trip.
Boat trip around Arisaig used to be a thing. Loads of seals and seabirds etc
Neptune's staircase is cool
Oban is much nicer for tourists than Ft William. Loads of ferries, ice cream, seafood. Kerrera has a cute ferry.
Cycle around Lismore? Probably a bit young.
Castle Stalker
Watch Chamber of Secrets then go to Glenfinnan. The viaduct is an easy walk away. Fun wee museum at the train station.
Ft.William has much cheaper and plentiful cocaine compared to Oban. So... there's that. Get the kids used to it, few cups of tablet ice-cream. Set them right up for later life.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
Minimum wage goes up by 6.7% next week to £12.24 per hour. I'd expect the vast majority of that extra money will go straight back into the economy.
Pushing up inflation or producing growth? We will see.
It certainly helps to cut the benefit bill though and differentiate work from benefits.
Yes, that minimum wage rise and triple lock will put money in the pockets of people who will spend it in the real economy, and there will be a multiplier effect.
NEW: @FT obtained new US proposal. The Trump admin is pushing to gain sweeping control over all of Ukraine’s major minerals and energy assets, while offering Kyiv no security guarantees, in an aggressive expansion of previous demands... https://x.com/ChristopherJM/status/1905297287221272735
I have been saying for weeks now, the US Ukraine minerals deal will never be signed - the reason is US industry are not at all interested in it - and this development absolutely proves me right. Trump Whitehouse have gone totally cold on signing this.
Trump will be drilling in Greenland before 2028 - the reason is US industry are totally excited by the prospect and lining up to be part of it.
Which bits of US industry are incredibly keen on drilling in Greenland?
The ones which extract rare earths and secure them for America.
The first thing you need to know about rare earths is that they're not rare.
And the second thing is, they are quite important. And the third thing, there’s geo political push to secure them.
I’m happy to name names.
Howard Lutnick certainly stands to gain. But Primarily it’s Ronald Lauder influencing this. Trump is completely on board with everything Lauder is saying on needing Greenland in the National Interest. https://fortune.com/2025/01/09/trump-greenland-mining-defense/
Here’s a flavour of the geo political queuing up to be involved in Greenland mining alongside Trumps America, and that it’s not whimsical from Trump, but solidly geo political and future looking. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9d5jwvw9nlo
Conversely, the now dead Ukraine/US minerals deal, Biden sounded out US industry on the Kyiv offer, there was zilch interest in spending the next century in Eastern Ukraine, when, as you say, they are not that rare, and Greenland is in play. After that Biden White House did not take the Ukraine offer of a deal remotely seriously. I’m not sure if Trump ever did either. https://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2025/Items/Feb28-1.html
I predict it again, US Ukraine Earths Deal dead, Trumps crew (including Starmer’s UK?) mining Greenland before 2028.
Bradford is seriously cheap. Nice-ish city centre pub: four pound fifty for a pint and some nuts. Fairly quite mind - the group of women misusing the word 'literally' have been replaced by a very very affectionate couple who appear to have come out largely to snog and grope. I'm quite charmed - it feels very teenage: but they must be in their 40s. The only other people in sight are a mother/daughter combo getting steadliy and happily and quietly sloshed.
£4.50 for a pint is cheap? Seems quite expensive to me.
PB Brains Trust, Scottish contingent: I'm going to be up your way with kids (2 and 5) for a week or so in mid-April. Any particular recommendations to keep them entertained? We'll be centred around Fort William/Glencoe but happy to travel a couple of hours away. Thanks!
Interesting challenge. My usual recommendation of "run the Aonach Eagach" is probably inappropriate at that age. Something like Ardnamurchan is a long drive, FYI.
Get a standard ScotRail service to Mallaig and back.
You could include a boat trip to Knoydart (famous pub)
Eigg is a perfect bitesize island for kids. Drive + fun ferry for a day trip.
Boat trip around Arisaig used to be a thing. Loads of seals and seabirds etc
Neptune's staircase is cool
Oban is much nicer for tourists than Ft William. Loads of ferries, ice cream, seafood. Kerrera has a cute ferry.
Cycle around Lismore? Probably a bit young.
Castle Stalker
Watch Chamber of Secrets then go to Glenfinnan. The viaduct is an easy walk away. Fun wee museum at the train station.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
Yes, I think that's true. People don't really care for the clown show in America or the tragedy in in the Ukraine. Not much for the genocide in Gaza either. So I agree that it isn't working for Starmer or harming Farage.
It isn't that people agree with them, but more that party leaders drag their voters (most of whom choose their party emotionally, or by vibe) to supporting positions of the leaders. Starmer gets it wrong here by getting the vibe of his party so wrong that it bewilders and disconcerts Labour supporters.
It's unfortunate that foreign policy is simultaneously of little interest to most voters and also one of the few arenas where Prime Ministers, Presidents, etc have significant influence and ability to personally change outcomes. Plus it's a reliable generator of "events, dear boy, events". It's perhaps not surprising that many of them end up spending more time there than their electorate would prefer.
Scotland exported 20 TWh of electricity last year, value of £1.5 billion. 13% YoY increase in generation. 904 projects in planning/construction with 65GW capacity.
We should have the cheapest energy in Europe. #indyref2
Bradford is seriously cheap. Nice-ish city centre pub: four pound fifty for a pint and some nuts. Fairly quite mind - the group of women misusing the word 'literally' have been replaced by a very very affectionate couple who appear to have come out largely to snog and grope. I'm quite charmed - it feels very teenage: but they must be in their 40s. The only other people in sight are a mother/daughter combo getting steadliy and happily and quietly sloshed.
£4.50 for a pint is cheap? Seems quite expensive to me.
To be fair, the £4.50 included some nuts.
I remember when you could take your girl to the pictures in Bradford, have a couple of pints and a babycham for the lady, drop by the chippy and still have enough for the bus fare home out of a half crown.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
Yes, I think that's true. People don't really care for the clown show in America or the tragedy in in the Ukraine. Not much for the genocide in Gaza either. So I agree that it isn't working for Starmer or harming Farage.
It isn't that people agree with them, but more that party leaders drag their voters (most of whom choose their party emotionally, or by vibe) to supporting positions of the leaders. Starmer gets it wrong here by getting the vibe of his party so wrong that it bewilders and disconcerts Labour supporters.
It's unfortunate that foreign policy is simultaneously of little interest to most voters and also one of the few arenas where Prime Ministers, Presidents, etc have significant influence and ability to personally change outcomes. Plus it's a reliable generator of "events, dear boy, events". It's perhaps not surprising that many of them end up spending more time there than their electorate would prefer.
Yes, foreign affairs where leaders end up, rather than where they start.
Though Trump is cooking up on the domestic agenda big time. It's even making some of the MAGA crowd a bit nervous.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
You’re only pretending to be supportive of Trump for trolling purposes. Like Just WilliamGlenn. It just happens to suit the mood this evening.
I am not supportive of Trump; I do see why he appeals to many Americans, and I very definitely see why a lot of Americans prefer him - for all his enormous flaws, even now - to the utter clownshow of lying, hypocritical Woke that is the Democrats
And that is the choice American voters had: it was him or Kamala Harris, who was only on the ballot because the Dems consciously lied about Biden's dementia to the entire country
Despite the Dems’ best efforts to hobble themselves in the last term, and despite their incumbency handicap, they weren’t far off in the popular vote or congress. So I expect and hope the prospect of Trump squatting like a toad over American politics will vanish as quickly as it did for Boris.
However, you are right that a lot of Americans - tens, maybe hundreds of millions of them - will continue to prefer him until the end. He slays their enemies. And their enemies are not the Russians, or the Chinese. Or even the EU. Their enemies are the libs.
The impact of Trump's tariffs will be key in the midterm elections next year
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080 SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663 THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494 LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121 HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100 GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080 SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663 THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494 LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121 HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100 GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080 SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663 THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494 LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121 HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100 GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080 SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663 THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494 LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121 HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100 GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
On topic. I understand that Nicola will have no action taken against her under branchform. Obviously the Crown Office know more than I do, but my eyebrows do lift slightly. If I brought home a new campervan and then moved it to my mother-in-law's driveway, my better half would be very interested to know how I had paid for it. On being told it was provided by work, my better half would not be confident that I was of sound mind. Especially if I was in charge of finance and she was head of the organisation. Sigh.
There will be a change of government. And the incoming very right wing and controversial PM literally looks like a giant penis.
Yes, two of the last three polls have it tied on 2PP with Labor ahead in the third.
So likely a hung parliament with Teal Independents having balance of power
Last time Lab had a huge polling lead, but you called it tight and still winnable for coalition. This time coalition actually lead due to collapse in Lab support, and you are calling it for Lab? 🤦♀️
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080 SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663 THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494 LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121 HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100 GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080 SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663 THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494 LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121 HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100 GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
Looks like she ran in the GE. Quite a lot of Gaza et al. on her GE website - probably enough to make the local Labour MP sweat a little at this result.
There will be a change of government. And the incoming very right wing and controversial PM literally looks like a giant penis.
Yes, two of the last three polls have it tied on 2PP with Labor ahead in the third.
So likely a hung parliament with Teal Independents having balance of power
Last time Lab had a huge polling lead, but you called it tight and still winnable for coalition. This time coalition actually lead due to collapse in Lab support, and you are calling it for Lab? 🤦♀️
It wasn't that big but Labour led on 2PP but Morrison as preferred PM until near end and Labor only scraped a majority.
As I said on 2/3 of last polls it is tied on 2PP. Though would be good news for the King if diehard monarchist Dutton does beat republican Albanese.
Most likely though the liberal Teals will hold the balance of power in a hung parliament and share similar views to the King on the environment anyway
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080 SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663 THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494 LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121 HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100 GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
Looks like she ran in the GE. Quite a lot of Gaza et al. on her GE website - probably enough to make the local Labour MP sweat a little at this result.
Nah. Gaza will be a Plaza by the next election, and Gazans living life of security and luxury on the east bank.
Hamas. You need to be thinking former Hamas, now Plaza Holiday Rep.
The White Lotus chain have already signed up for a resort hotel on the refurbished strip.
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080 SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663 THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494 LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121 HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100 GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
Looks like she ran in the GE. Quite a lot of Gaza et al. on her GE website - probably enough to make the local Labour MP sweat a little at this result.
Just for a bit of fun - a hypothetical Pan-Anglosphere Election!
According to the most recent Anglosphere election results (with Canada and Australia pending), and with a total electoral college distributed proportionally by population (unlike the present US system!), but "winner-takes-all" at State level (like the present US system):
Remember - this just for a bit of fun!
USA (50 states plus DC) 538 electors (2024), but distributed proportionally 310 Radical Right, 228 Radical Left
US Territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.) 6 Electors, ie. 5 for Puerto Rico, 1 at large for the others (2024) 5 Radical Left, 1 Radical Right
UK (4 "states", ie. the Home Nations) 109 electors (2024) 109 Radical Left (oh, well!)
UK Dependencies and Territories, 1 at large Elector (elections 2019 to 2025) 1 Radical Centrist Dad (most elected representatives are unaffiliated)
Canada (13 states, including Quebec) 60 electors (2021) 51 Radical Left, 9 Radical Right - of course, will change later in the year!
Australia (6 states plus Canberra, the Aus external territories are included in Canberra and WA) 42 electors (2022) 22 Radical Right, 20 Radical Left - of course, will change later in the year!
New Zealand (1 state, ie. the main islands plus the three territories) 8 electors (2023) 8 Radical Right
Ireland (1 state) 8 electors (2024) 8 Radical Right
Remember - this just for a bit of fun!
TOTAL: 772 Electoral Votes for the whole Anglosphere Federation:
413 Radical Left Lunatics (53.5%) 358 Radical Right Lunatics (46.4%) 1 Radical Centrist Dad (0.1%)
And the "Populist" Vote:
112,613,059 Radical Left Lunatics (50.6%) 106,315,259 Radical Right Lunatics (47.8%) 3,663,521 Radical Centrist Dads/Moms (1.6%)
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5217399-vance-jewish-insider-signal-chat/ ..“This morning, [Editor-in-Chief] Josh Kraushaar ran a hit piece against me in Jewish Insider, which has become an anti-JD rag,” Vance posted on social platform X. “Now, you might say this is evidence of Kraushaar being the biggest hack in Washington, and you may be correct. Another very plausible explanation is that he’s the dumbest journalist in Washington.” Kraushaar didn’t immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment and hasn’t replied to Vance’s social media post. Jewish Insider published the news article Thursday under the headline, “Vance’s reluctance to support Houthi strikes concerns some leading GOP senators,” with the subheading, “Several GOP senators told [Jewish Insider] they are concerned Vance’s isolationist worldview may reshape the direction of the party.” It quoted named and unnamed Republicans who were concerned by Vance’s reservations about going forward with the ultimately successful airstrike on Houthi rebels who have been attacking ships near the Suez Canal...
Comparative figures are difficult; in the UK we tend to roll "pointed objects" in with knife crime, but not to the extent of x50. The difference in rate speaks volumes.
(The replies to that tweet seem largely to be Maga Morons or similar snuffling up BS, and bots. I don't think we need to be interested.)
On topic. I understand that Nicola will have no action taken against her under branchform. Obviously the Crown Office know more than I do, but my eyebrows do lift slightly. If I brought home a new campervan and then moved it to my mother-in-law's driveway, my better half would be very interested to know how I had paid for it. On being told it was provided by work, my better half would not be confident that I was of sound mind. Especially if I was in charge of finance and she was head of the organisation. Sigh.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
You’re only pretending to be supportive of Trump for trolling purposes. Like Just WilliamGlenn. It just happens to suit the mood this evening.
I am not supportive of Trump; I do see why he appeals to many Americans, and I very definitely see why a lot of Americans prefer him - for all his enormous flaws, even now - to the utter clownshow of lying, hypocritical Woke that is the Democrats
And that is the choice American voters had: it was him or Kamala Harris, who was only on the ballot because the Dems consciously lied about Biden's dementia to the entire country
Despite the Dems’ best efforts to hobble themselves in the last term, and despite their incumbency handicap, they weren’t far off in the popular vote or congress. So I expect and hope the prospect of Trump squatting like a toad over American politics will vanish as quickly as it did for Boris.
However, you are right that a lot of Americans - tens, maybe hundreds of millions of them - will continue to prefer him until the end. He slays their enemies. And their enemies are not the Russians, or the Chinese. Or even the EU. Their enemies are the libs.
The thing is, they really are
Just as the Woke Blob really IS the enemy in the UK, now. Far worse than Putin. They are destroying us through legal and illegal migration, through a corrupted and perverse judiciary, through evil undermining of natural patriotism, through leftoid Marxist nonsense taught in schools, and multiple other ways. They are destroying the country
If I didn't have a nice life and kids I might take up arms against them, if I could find them. Americans have arms, and they are allowed to own and use them, the Founding Fathers were right to enshrine that in the Constitution, along with Free Speech
NEW: @FT obtained new US proposal. The Trump admin is pushing to gain sweeping control over all of Ukraine’s major minerals and energy assets, while offering Kyiv no security guarantees, in an aggressive expansion of previous demands... https://x.com/ChristopherJM/status/1905297287221272735
I have been saying for weeks now, the US Ukraine minerals deal will never be signed - the reason is US industry are not at all interested in it - and this development absolutely proves me right. Trump Whitehouse have gone totally cold on signing this.
Trump will be drilling in Greenland before 2028 - the reason is US industry are totally excited by the prospect and lining up to be part of it.
Which bits of US industry are incredibly keen on drilling in Greenland?
The ones which extract rare earths and secure them for America.
The first thing you need to know about rare earths is that they're not rare.
On the topic of rare: a peak British moment this evening.
I was at a dinner in a place called the Union Club in Soho this evening. Very fun, with some interesting economist types talking about fiscal rules. Anyway, when I ordered the steak the waitress said “I must warn you that it comes medium rare”.
“I must warn you”. Here, in central London, in 2025, they *must warn* me that my steak won’t be cooked to a rubbery crisp.
I once had to sign a disclaimer to accept the risks of ordering a steak medium-rare at a restaurant in Manchester. That was back in 2006-7ish, so not a recent 'health & safety gone mad' thing.
I'd take that as an admission that medium-rare wasn't going to do a thing to kill the stuff growing on the work surfaces back there in the kitchen...
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
Do you think if JD Vance walked around Glasgow tomorrow everyone would just ignore him?
That's your answer?
Maybe the people I mix with are unrepresentative but the Vance/Trump ambush and attempted humiliation of Zelensky has made a deep impression on just about everyone, I'd say. And not in a good way.
The YouGov question asks what are the top 3 issues that face the country. I'm furious about how Trump/Vance/Musk have treated Ukraine, but even I would have it towards the bottom of the list.
Except it's helping open further the rift between Europe and the US, helping fuel the trade war. And forcing an increase in defence spending large enough to affect spending on the issues at the top of the public's list.
No one cares much about defence and foreign affairs - until they start affecting domestic ones. See also Brexit.
The extreme example is Canada, where they've turned a slam dunk Conservative landslide into a nail biter.
How the politics play out in the UK isn't yet entirely clear. Luckyguy is right in one sense, but quite possibly wrong about the politics.
Israel provided sensitive intelligence from a human source in Yemen on a key Houthi military operative targeted in an attack described by national security adviser Mike Waltz in an unclassified Signal chat with senior Trump administration officials.
Shortly after the U.S. strikes began, Waltz texted that a key target of the attacks, a Houthi missile expert, had been seen entering his girlfriend's building, which he said had been destroyed.
Israeli officials complained privately to U.S. officials that Waltz's texts became public.
Mark Carney warned Canadians that Trump had permanently altered relations and that, regardless of any future trade deals, there would be “no turning back”.
He told reporters: “The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over.”
The world is being remade into a much more dangerous place.
That's the tyranny of strange categorisations, and self-designation. It's also different from those who need, or get, support - which in the UK (unlike other countries) is a functional definition.
We see it every time there is an outraged newspaper article in the Times about THERE ARE ONLY SIX DISABLED PEOPLE IN PARLIAMENT, WHEN 24% ARE DISABLED, which I have been noticing for about 2 decades.
It's always a campaigner wanting more attention by generating a fake statistic based on their own definition of disability - usually physical conditions or "identifies as". Every time I look I get to 40 or 60 "disabled" MPs (using the other definition) without breaking sweat or working very hard.
For those who enjoy the misuse of the word literally as much as me: a woman at an adjacent table is telling a long and involved story about being allergic to lavender, and a reaction to some sort of cosmetic: 'My face was literally on fire. I was literally burnt to a cinder'.
Should "literally" have been in quotation marks?
But "literally" is being used in the same way as "really", so I'm not sure why pedants seem OK with one but not the other.
I was cold, I was very cold, I was freezing. You don't say "I was very freezing", so if you want to go further you have to use an adverb like "really freezing", "literally freezing" or "fucking freezing". All are fine.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Having listened, that's weird from CNN. An elephant of interpretation balancing on a toadstool of data.
The biggest % difference for support since the Election they are talking about is roughly 2%-3%.
We would call that margin of error and move on. Let's see what the numbers are when the cost of insulin goes up 3x or 10x, the Tonka Tankers cost an extra 10-15%, and the fuel is up by a dollar per gallon - and those consequences of Trump policies have worked through.
(The more dedicated cultists will blame Denmark and Canada.)
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
This is a bit like you inventing that people predicting a Trump victory were bullied off PB. I don't think anyone has denied Trump's magnetic qualities on here - indeed, it's part of the reason why Centrist Dads are in so much anguish.
Of much more concern though is the impotence of the American Left (or indeed centre and centre-right). Trump is smashing through red lines at pace and no one is remotely close to keeping up with him, to putting up any sort of resistance. Trump is unpopular, relative to his predecessors - but that doesn't matter much if it cannot crystalise into something tangible like an election result or serious protests.
Remember that your views are highly unusual. Centrist Dads are, well, central. The UK population detests Trump, Musk and Vance.
The UK population seems to care a good deal less about foreign affairs than PB's centrist Dad contingent, judging by the non-arrival of Starmer’s world statesman bounce and the imperviousness of Reform polling to 'being Trump arselickers'.
Probably worth a look at what actually matters to voters:
Trumpski has already told automakers not to raise prices...
He can tell them all he likes; I doubt it's sustainable. Reality won't listen to a deranged bigot in the White House listening to the voices in his head, which is stuck in 1970.
Even according to his own analysis in his Executive Order, half of the components in USA made cars are imported, which will have a 25% tariff on them. I doubt if that can be "absorbed". If it is, that's a chunk off the stock market value by loss of returns.
And it would take years to mitigate and bring production on-shore. And when it is on-shore, comparative advantage means that it will still be more expensive, or they would not have sourced it abroad.
For those who enjoy the misuse of the word literally as much as me: a woman at an adjacent table is telling a long and involved story about being allergic to lavender, and a reaction to some sort of cosmetic: 'My face was literally on fire. I was literally burnt to a cinder'.
Should "literally" have been in quotation marks?
But "literally" is being used in the same way as "really", so I'm not sure why pedants seem OK with one but not the other.
I was cold, I was very cold, I was freezing. You don't say "I was very freezing", so if you want to go further you have to use an adverb like "really freezing", "literally freezing" or "fucking freezing". All are fine.
Literally is a helpful word because it helps describe how extreme a situation was, by taking a scenario that might otherwise be deemed a colourful metaphor or exaggeration, and informing someone that it actually happened. 'My kitchen was flooded totally - the hearth rug literally floated out of the door.'. It's a useful rhetorical device being undermined by ignorance.
You might find it 'fine' but then it's also 'fine' if someone comes up to someone else and says 'flubby flub flubber flub'. Nobody gets hurt. It is still not very good English.
That's the tyranny of strange categorisations, and self-designation. It's also different from those who need, or get, support - which in the UK (unlike other countries) is a functional definition.
We see it every time there is an outraged newspaper article in the Times about THERE ARE ONLY SIX DISABLED PEOPLE IN PARLIAMENT, WHEN 24% ARE DISABLED, which I have been noticing for about 2 decades.
It's always a campaigner wanting more attention by generating a fake statistic based on their own definition of disability - usually physical conditions or "identifies as". Every time I look I get to 40 or 60 "disabled" MPs (using the other definition) without breaking sweat or working very hard.
Although there does also seem to be something new going on in the mental health sphere, possibly but not certainly owing to Covid, and we see this also in teachers' complaints about incontinent schoolchildren – an unlikely ruse to get a new Honda Civic or extra time in GCSE exams.
For those who enjoy the misuse of the word literally as much as me: a woman at an adjacent table is telling a long and involved story about being allergic to lavender, and a reaction to some sort of cosmetic: 'My face was literally on fire. I was literally burnt to a cinder'.
Should "literally" have been in quotation marks?
But "literally" is being used in the same way as "really", so I'm not sure why pedants seem OK with one but not the other.
I was cold, I was very cold, I was freezing. You don't say "I was very freezing", so if you want to go further you have to use an adverb like "really freezing", "literally freezing" or "fucking freezing". All are fine.
"Really" was, and perhaps still is, a really prominent word in extempore prayer in evangelical circles, amongst hands-up evangelicals - especially the sort who previously did it all in liturgy or listened to the vicar so had to find a new voice. The language used in many choruses (ie modern songs) does not really help. Also, see "just".
Vicar: "Let's have a time of prayer." No 1:"I really just want to thank you, Lord." No 2:"Thank-you Jesus, that you have really helped my faith this week." No 3:"Lord, I really, honestly, Lord, just honestly want to say really." *
Hands-down evangelicals tended (do they still?) to reach for the language they had grown up with in hymns, bibles, or statements of faith.
* This is approximately borrowed from the politely satirical Ship Of Fools website.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
You’re only pretending to be supportive of Trump for trolling purposes. Like Just WilliamGlenn. It just happens to suit the mood this evening.
I am not supportive of Trump; I do see why he appeals to many Americans, and I very definitely see why a lot of Americans prefer him - for all his enormous flaws, even now - to the utter clownshow of lying, hypocritical Woke that is the Democrats
And that is the choice American voters had: it was him or Kamala Harris, who was only on the ballot because the Dems consciously lied about Biden's dementia to the entire country
Despite the Dems’ best efforts to hobble themselves in the last term, and despite their incumbency handicap, they weren’t far off in the popular vote or congress. So I expect and hope the prospect of Trump squatting like a toad over American politics will vanish as quickly as it did for Boris.
However, you are right that a lot of Americans - tens, maybe hundreds of millions of them - will continue to prefer him until the end. He slays their enemies. And their enemies are not the Russians, or the Chinese. Or even the EU. Their enemies are the libs.
The thing is, they really are
Just as the Woke Blob really IS the enemy in the UK, now. Far worse than Putin. They are destroying us through legal and illegal migration, through a corrupted and perverse judiciary, through evil undermining of natural patriotism, through leftoid Marxist nonsense taught in schools, and multiple other ways. They are destroying the country
If I didn't have a nice life and kids I might take up arms against them, if I could find them. Americans have arms, and they are allowed to own and use them, the Founding Fathers were right to enshrine that in the Constitution, along with Free Speech
Says the least patriotic person on the entire board.
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080 SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663 THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494 LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121 HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100 GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
Looks like she ran in the GE. Quite a lot of Gaza et al. on her GE website - probably enough to make the local Labour MP sweat a little at this result.
Athwal’s old ward, Jas not exactly having covered himself in glory since stepping up to the Commons. That the Tory and Labour votes are relatively close is remarkable, indicating the loss of Labour’s support to the Indy.
Next years local elections could be interesting- although it is hard to see what a load of potential councillors motivated by the Gaza issue will do for local services.
For this to work, the US will need to collaborate w/ low-cost country such as, VOILA MEXICO.
Mexican labor is cheap vs the US. So is Claudio gonna be a Trump whisperer and manage to be a winner of this? Well, if everyone is forced to sell to the US via making in the US and if somehow Mexico has an exemption, then you can see that Mexico can be a winner of nearshoring.
But what would it take for Trump to give Mexico this? Cooperation on making sure that it not only benefits Mexico but most importantly the US.
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080 SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663 THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494 LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121 HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100 GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
NEW: @FT obtained new US proposal. The Trump admin is pushing to gain sweeping control over all of Ukraine’s major minerals and energy assets, while offering Kyiv no security guarantees, in an aggressive expansion of previous demands... https://x.com/ChristopherJM/status/1905297287221272735
I have been saying for weeks now, the US Ukraine minerals deal will never be signed - the reason is US industry are not at all interested in it - and this development absolutely proves me right. Trump Whitehouse have gone totally cold on signing this.
Trump will be drilling in Greenland before 2028 - the reason is US industry are totally excited by the prospect and lining up to be part of it.
Which bits of US industry are incredibly keen on drilling in Greenland?
The ones which extract rare earths and secure them for America.
The first thing you need to know about rare earths is that they're not rare.
And the second thing is, they are quite important. And the third thing, there’s geo political push to secure them.
I’m happy to name names.
Howard Lutnick certainly stands to gain. But Primarily it’s Ronald Lauder influencing this. Trump is completely on board with everything Lauder is saying on needing Greenland in the National Interest. https://fortune.com/2025/01/09/trump-greenland-mining-defense/
Here’s a flavour of the geo political queuing up to be involved in Greenland mining alongside Trumps America, and that it’s not whimsical from Trump, but solidly geo political and future looking. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9d5jwvw9nlo
Conversely, the now dead Ukraine/US minerals deal, Biden sounded out US industry on the Kyiv offer, there was zilch interest in spending the next century in Eastern Ukraine, when, as you say, they are not that rare, and Greenland is in play. After that Biden White House did not take the Ukraine offer of a deal remotely seriously. I’m not sure if Trump ever did either. https://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2025/Items/Feb28-1.html
I predict it again, US Ukraine Earths Deal dead, Trumps crew (including Starmer’s UK?) mining Greenland before 2028.
What looked like was turning into a planned PR visit to rally support for a US Greenland has rapidly been reduced to a visit to the US space base, now that the White House has realised they were heading for a load of negative PR. It looks like they won't be visiting Greenland soil at all, assuming the space base is US soil like their military bases...
On this Trump 25% auto tariff, is there political value for the Dems ni publicly saying that they will reverse it?
It would put a question mark over the long-term stability companies would need in order to shift production to the UK, and put some confusion under his programme.
IME that is probably too long term (ie >2 years) to be how politics works in the USA.
For those who enjoy the misuse of the word literally as much as me: a woman at an adjacent table is telling a long and involved story about being allergic to lavender, and a reaction to some sort of cosmetic: 'My face was literally on fire. I was literally burnt to a cinder'.
Should "literally" have been in quotation marks?
But "literally" is being used in the same way as "really", so I'm not sure why pedants seem OK with one but not the other.
I was cold, I was very cold, I was freezing. You don't say "I was very freezing", so if you want to go further you have to use an adverb like "really freezing", "literally freezing" or "fucking freezing". All are fine.
Literally is a helpful word because it helps describe how extreme a situation was, by taking a scenario that might otherwise be deemed a colourful metaphor or exaggeration, and informing someone that it actually happened. 'My kitchen was flooded totally - the hearth rug literally floated out of the door.'. It's a useful rhetorical device being undermined by ignorance.
You might find it 'fine' but then it's also 'fine' if someone comes up to someone else and says 'flubby flub flubber flub'. Nobody gets hurt. It is still not very good English.
So you were confused about whether the person saying "my face was literally on fire" was speaking metaphorically?
Most people can work things out from the context.
It's actually a good way of bringing a dead metaphor back to life. Though that only really works as long as pedants keep complaining, so it's good that they do this service.
Minimum wage goes up by 6.7% next week to £12.24 per hour. I'd expect the vast majority of that extra money will go straight back into the economy.
Pushing up inflation or producing growth? We will see.
It certainly helps to cut the benefit bill though and differentiate work from benefits.
I doubt it will have much of an effect. Market shelf-stacking wages are already a bit higher.
Not really - last year Aldi where paying 10% above minimum wage, now it's going to be about 3%
we are very quickly getting to the point where there a lot of people whose jobs were originally well above minimum wage now very close to it.
And wage differentials are eroded.
Yes. My son manages a shift of shelf-stackers in one of the main supermarket chains, and his pay rise is made in October so for 6 months each year he questions if the differential is worth the hassle.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
You’re only pretending to be supportive of Trump for trolling purposes. Like Just WilliamGlenn. It just happens to suit the mood this evening.
I am not supportive of Trump; I do see why he appeals to many Americans, and I very definitely see why a lot of Americans prefer him - for all his enormous flaws, even now - to the utter clownshow of lying, hypocritical Woke that is the Democrats
And that is the choice American voters had: it was him or Kamala Harris, who was only on the ballot because the Dems consciously lied about Biden's dementia to the entire country
Despite the Dems’ best efforts to hobble themselves in the last term, and despite their incumbency handicap, they weren’t far off in the popular vote or congress. So I expect and hope the prospect of Trump squatting like a toad over American politics will vanish as quickly as it did for Boris.
However, you are right that a lot of Americans - tens, maybe hundreds of millions of them - will continue to prefer him until the end. He slays their enemies. And their enemies are not the Russians, or the Chinese. Or even the EU. Their enemies are the libs.
The thing is, they really are
Just as the Woke Blob really IS the enemy in the UK, now. Far worse than Putin. They are destroying us through legal and illegal migration, through a corrupted and perverse judiciary, through evil undermining of natural patriotism, through leftoid Marxist nonsense taught in schools, and multiple other ways. They are destroying the country
If I didn't have a nice life and kids I might take up arms against them, if I could find them. Americans have arms, and they are allowed to own and use them, the Founding Fathers were right to enshrine that in the Constitution, along with Free Speech
Says the least patriotic person on the entire board.
Do we have a duty to report @Leon to Prevent? He seems to have been so radicalised by consuming extreme propaganda on Twitter that he "literally" wants to obtain weapons and kill any liberals he can find.
For those who enjoy the misuse of the word literally as much as me: a woman at an adjacent table is telling a long and involved story about being allergic to lavender, and a reaction to some sort of cosmetic: 'My face was literally on fire. I was literally burnt to a cinder'.
Should "literally" have been in quotation marks?
But "literally" is being used in the same way as "really", so I'm not sure why pedants seem OK with one but not the other.
I was cold, I was very cold, I was freezing. You don't say "I was very freezing", so if you want to go further you have to use an adverb like "really freezing", "literally freezing" or "fucking freezing". All are fine.
Literally is a helpful word because it helps describe how extreme a situation was, by taking a scenario that might otherwise be deemed a colourful metaphor or exaggeration, and informing someone that it actually happened. 'My kitchen was flooded totally - the hearth rug literally floated out of the door.'. It's a useful rhetorical device being undermined by ignorance.
You might find it 'fine' but then it's also 'fine' if someone comes up to someone else and says 'flubby flub flubber flub'. Nobody gets hurt. It is still not very good English.
So you were confused about whether the person saying "my face was literally on fire" was speaking metaphorically?
Most people can work things out from the context.
It's actually a good way of bringing a dead metaphor back to life. Though that only really works as long as pedants keep complaining, so it's good that they do this service.
I wasn't confused, because it didn't happen to me. And the demerit does not lie in the confusion caused when stupid people abuse the word 'literally' - it lies in no longer being able to use the word 'literally' to describe something that 'literally' happened, because it has become devalued.
Shows that despite the European backlash against Trump so far his popularity is holding up in America. Also suggest why the Dems have been going after Musk instead.
Don't confuse the Centrist Dads with FACTS
You’re only pretending to be supportive of Trump for trolling purposes. Like Just WilliamGlenn. It just happens to suit the mood this evening.
I am not supportive of Trump; I do see why he appeals to many Americans, and I very definitely see why a lot of Americans prefer him - for all his enormous flaws, even now - to the utter clownshow of lying, hypocritical Woke that is the Democrats
And that is the choice American voters had: it was him or Kamala Harris, who was only on the ballot because the Dems consciously lied about Biden's dementia to the entire country
Despite the Dems’ best efforts to hobble themselves in the last term, and despite their incumbency handicap, they weren’t far off in the popular vote or congress. So I expect and hope the prospect of Trump squatting like a toad over American politics will vanish as quickly as it did for Boris.
However, you are right that a lot of Americans - tens, maybe hundreds of millions of them - will continue to prefer him until the end. He slays their enemies. And their enemies are not the Russians, or the Chinese. Or even the EU. Their enemies are the libs.
The thing is, they really are
Just as the Woke Blob really IS the enemy in the UK, now. Far worse than Putin. They are destroying us through legal and illegal migration, through a corrupted and perverse judiciary, through evil undermining of natural patriotism, through leftoid Marxist nonsense taught in schools, and multiple other ways. They are destroying the country
If I didn't have a nice life and kids I might take up arms against them, if I could find them. Americans have arms, and they are allowed to own and use them, the Founding Fathers were right to enshrine that in the Constitution, along with Free Speech
Says the least patriotic person on the entire board.
Do we have a duty to report @Leon to Prevent? He seems to have been so radicalised by consuming extreme propaganda on Twitter that he "literally" wants to obtain weapons and kill any liberals he can find.
Is that literally “literally” or “literally” “literally”?
For those who enjoy the misuse of the word literally as much as me: a woman at an adjacent table is telling a long and involved story about being allergic to lavender, and a reaction to some sort of cosmetic: 'My face was literally on fire. I was literally burnt to a cinder'.
Should "literally" have been in quotation marks?
But "literally" is being used in the same way as "really", so I'm not sure why pedants seem OK with one but not the other.
I was cold, I was very cold, I was freezing. You don't say "I was very freezing", so if you want to go further you have to use an adverb like "really freezing", "literally freezing" or "fucking freezing". All are fine.
Literally is a helpful word because it helps describe how extreme a situation was, by taking a scenario that might otherwise be deemed a colourful metaphor or exaggeration, and informing someone that it actually happened. 'My kitchen was flooded totally - the hearth rug literally floated out of the door.'. It's a useful rhetorical device being undermined by ignorance.
You might find it 'fine' but then it's also 'fine' if someone comes up to someone else and says 'flubby flub flubber flub'. Nobody gets hurt. It is still not very good English.
So you were confused about whether the person saying "my face was literally on fire" was speaking metaphorically?
Most people can work things out from the context.
It's actually a good way of bringing a dead metaphor back to life. Though that only really works as long as pedants keep complaining, so it's good that they do this service.
I wasn't confused, because it didn't happen to me. And the demerit does not lie in the confusion caused when stupid people abuse the word 'literally' - it lies in no longer being able to use the word 'literally' to describe something that 'literally' happened, because it has become devalued.
But you have just given an example yourself where that meaning of literally was quite clear, so it seems to me that you are the stupid person if anything.
Comments
Bright: sparky, think quickly, natural talent but may be as yet unrefined.
Intelligent: not easily tricked. good at school. Kind of neutral
Clever: more refined version of bright. A touch of direction to the brightness
Smart: streetwise, use their cleverness for mercenary purposes, won’t be easily tricked
Intellectual: a thinker. Maybe a bit unworldly
Wise: has seen it all. Advanced in age, or experience. Thoughtful
Precocious: bright, but in a slightly irritating manner
Gifted: a bit like precocious, but a bit weirder and a bit less irritating
Trump does not understand markets.
Just as the Woke Blob really IS the enemy in the UK, now. Far worse than Putin. They are destroying us through legal and illegal migration, through a corrupted and perverse judiciary, through evil undermining of natural patriotism, through leftoid Marxist nonsense taught in schools, and multiple other ways. They are destroying the country
If I didn't have a nice life and kids I might take up arms against them, if I could find them. Americans have arms, and they are allowed to own and use them, the Founding Fathers were right to enshrine that in the Constitution, along with Free Speech
Indeed why was Labour’s victory so far below expectations last year? Largely due to Gaza.
Pushing up inflation or producing growth? We will see.
It certainly helps to cut the benefit bill though and differentiate work from benefits.
It isn't that people agree with them, but more that party leaders drag their voters (most of whom choose their party emotionally, or by vibe) to supporting positions of the leaders. Starmer gets it wrong here by getting the vibe of his party so wrong that it bewilders and disconcerts Labour supporters.
These days the true ultra-luxe is almost all in the Indian Ocean. Maldives and Seychelles, specifically. If you are looking to spunk loads of money on an absurdly expensive holiday, that's where you should go
I’m happy to name names.
Howard Lutnick certainly stands to gain. But Primarily it’s Ronald Lauder influencing this. Trump is completely on board with everything Lauder is saying on needing Greenland in the National
Interest.
https://fortune.com/2025/01/09/trump-greenland-mining-defense/
The Broligarchs gain too.
https://www.levernews.com/trumps-tech-donors-have-big-plans-for_greenland/
Here’s a flavour of the geo political queuing up to be involved in Greenland mining alongside Trumps America, and that it’s not whimsical from Trump, but solidly geo political and future looking.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9d5jwvw9nlo
Conversely, the now dead Ukraine/US minerals deal, Biden sounded out US industry on the Kyiv offer, there was zilch interest in spending the next century in Eastern Ukraine, when, as you say, they are not that rare, and Greenland is in play. After that Biden White House did not take the Ukraine offer of a deal remotely seriously. I’m not sure if Trump ever did either.
https://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2025/Items/Feb28-1.html
I predict it again, US Ukraine Earths Deal dead, Trumps crew (including Starmer’s UK?) mining Greenland before 2028.
we are very quickly getting to the point where there a lot of people whose jobs were originally well above minimum wage now very close to it.
Scotland exported 20 TWh of electricity last year, value of £1.5 billion. 13% YoY increase in generation. 904 projects in planning/construction with 65GW capacity.
We should have the cheapest energy in Europe. #indyref2
Of course that were a weeks wages at the time...
Though Trump is cooking up on the domestic agenda big time. It's even making some of the MAGA crowd a bit nervous.
Two million more people than before the pandemic say they struggle to function because of poor mental health" (£)
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/a-quarter-of-britons-now-disabled-jhjzwcvbs
Decent ales are £2.89 in my local Spoons now. Except on Mondays, when they're all £1.99. And a 6.5% stout for £1.99 is a bargain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2025_Australian_federal_election
There will be a change of government. And the incoming very right wing and controversial PM literally looks like a giant penis.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/ng-interactive/2025/mar/25/australian-election-2025-polls-today-opinion-poll-tracker-essential-newspoll-2pp-party-labor-coalition-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-latest
Penis Man it is then.
"REDBRIDGE Mayfield
BEGUM, Noor Jahan (Ilford Independents) 1,080
SALEEM, Mazhar (Labour Party) 663
THAKUR, Robin (Conservative Party Candidate) 494
LUGGERI, Paul (Reform UK) 121
HEPWORTH, Neil (Liberal Democrats) 100
GILANI, Nadir Iqbal (Green Party Candidate) 85
Electorate: 10,342
Ballot papers issued: 2,549
Turnout: 24.65%"
Here all week.
Right 46%
Labor and other Left 45%
Centrists/others/Inds 9%
BUT on the Two Party Preferred, it ended up:
Left 52%
Right 48%
(a familiar ratio!)
So likely a hung parliament with Teal Independents having balance of power
As I said on 2/3 of last polls it is tied on 2PP. Though would be good news for the King if diehard monarchist Dutton does beat republican Albanese.
Most likely though the liberal Teals will hold the balance of power in a hung parliament and share similar views to the King on the environment anyway
Hamas. You need to be thinking former Hamas, now Plaza Holiday Rep.
The White Lotus chain have already signed up for a resort hotel on the refurbished strip.
According to the most recent Anglosphere election results (with Canada and Australia pending), and with a total electoral college distributed proportionally by population (unlike the present US system!), but "winner-takes-all" at State level (like the present US system):
Remember - this just for a bit of fun!
USA (50 states plus DC) 538 electors (2024), but distributed proportionally
310 Radical Right, 228 Radical Left
US Territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.) 6 Electors, ie. 5 for Puerto Rico, 1 at large for the others (2024)
5 Radical Left, 1 Radical Right
UK (4 "states", ie. the Home Nations) 109 electors (2024)
109 Radical Left (oh, well!)
UK Dependencies and Territories, 1 at large Elector (elections 2019 to 2025)
1 Radical Centrist Dad (most elected representatives are unaffiliated)
Canada (13 states, including Quebec) 60 electors (2021)
51 Radical Left, 9 Radical Right - of course, will change later in the year!
Australia (6 states plus Canberra, the Aus external territories are included in Canberra and WA) 42 electors (2022)
22 Radical Right, 20 Radical Left - of course, will change later in the year!
New Zealand (1 state, ie. the main islands plus the three territories) 8 electors (2023)
8 Radical Right
Ireland (1 state) 8 electors (2024)
8 Radical Right
Remember - this just for a bit of fun!
TOTAL: 772 Electoral Votes for the whole Anglosphere Federation:
413 Radical Left Lunatics (53.5%)
358 Radical Right Lunatics (46.4%)
1 Radical Centrist Dad (0.1%)
And the "Populist" Vote:
112,613,059 Radical Left Lunatics (50.6%)
106,315,259 Radical Right Lunatics (47.8%)
3,663,521 Radical Centrist Dads/Moms (1.6%)
Remember - this is just for a bit of fun!
Source: www.772.com
@nicktimiraos.bsky.social
Trump tells automakers: You better not raise car prices because of tariffs.
https://bsky.app/profile/nicktimiraos.bsky.social/post/3llfqy5qylk2s
Most recent comparative figures to hand for 2021:
Stabbing deaths Brazil - 8,913. Per 100k people - 4.04.
Stabbing deaths UK - 52, Per 100k people - 0.08.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/stabbing-deaths-by-country#title
Comparative figures are difficult; in the UK we tend to roll "pointed objects" in with knife crime, but not to the extent of x50. The difference in rate speaks volumes.
(The replies to that tweet seem largely to be Maga Morons or similar snuffling up BS, and bots. I don't think we need to be interested.)
It's driving you potty.
No one cares much about defence and foreign affairs - until they start affecting domestic ones. See also Brexit.
The extreme example is Canada, where they've turned a slam dunk Conservative landslide into a nail biter.
How the politics play out in the UK isn't yet entirely clear. Luckyguy is right in one sense, but quite possibly wrong about the politics.
Israel provided sensitive intelligence from a human source in Yemen on a key Houthi military operative targeted in an attack described by national security adviser Mike Waltz in an unclassified Signal chat with senior Trump administration officials.
Shortly after the U.S. strikes began, Waltz texted that a key target of the attacks, a Houthi missile expert, had been seen entering his girlfriend's building, which he said had been destroyed.
Israeli officials complained privately to U.S. officials that Waltz's texts became public.
https://x.com/yashar/status/1905334302256021641
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/27/us-allies-worldwide-decry-trump-car-tariffs-and-threaten-retaliation
Canada’s prime minister has said the era of deep ties with the US “is over”, as governments from Tokyo to Berlin to Paris sharply criticised Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on car imports, with some threatening retaliatory action.
Mark Carney warned Canadians that Trump had permanently altered relations and that, regardless of any future trade deals, there would be “no turning back”.
He told reporters: “The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over.”
The world is being remade into a much more dangerous place.
We see it every time there is an outraged newspaper article in the Times about THERE ARE ONLY SIX DISABLED PEOPLE IN PARLIAMENT, WHEN 24% ARE DISABLED, which I have been noticing for about 2 decades.
It's always a campaigner wanting more attention by generating a fake statistic based on their own definition of disability - usually physical conditions or "identifies as". Every time I look I get to 40 or 60 "disabled" MPs (using the other definition) without breaking sweat or working very hard.
Full version:
https://archive.is/20250328052647/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/a-quarter-of-britons-now-disabled-jhjzwcvbs
I was cold, I was very cold, I was freezing. You don't say "I was very freezing", so if you want to go further you have to use an adverb like "really freezing", "literally freezing" or "fucking freezing". All are fine.
The biggest % difference for support since the Election they are talking about is roughly 2%-3%.
We would call that margin of error and move on. Let's see what the numbers are when the cost of insulin goes up 3x or 10x, the Tonka Tankers cost an extra 10-15%, and the fuel is up by a dollar per gallon - and those consequences of Trump policies have worked through.
(The more dedicated cultists will blame Denmark and Canada.)
"Hey pal, lend us some money for a cup of tea".
Even according to his own analysis in his Executive Order, half of the components in USA made cars are imported, which will have a 25% tariff on them. I doubt if that can be "absorbed". If it is, that's a chunk off the stock market value by loss of returns.
And it would take years to mitigate and bring production on-shore. And when it is on-shore, comparative advantage means that it will still be more expensive, or they would not have sourced it abroad.
Here's Trump's own analysis:
In 2024, Americans bought approximately 16 million cars, SUVs, and light trucks, and 50% of these vehicles were imports (8 million).
Of the other 8 million vehicles assembled in America and not imported, the average domestic content is conservatively estimated at only 50% and is likely closer to 40%.
Therefore, of the 16 million cars bought by Americans, only 25% of the vehicle content can be categorized as Made in America.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-adjusts-imports-of-automobiles-and-automobile-parts-into-the-united-states/
Here's a paper from 2007 lamenting that 25% of parts in US made cars were imported:
https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/chicago-fed-letter/2007/october-243
You might find it 'fine' but then it's also 'fine' if someone comes up to someone else and says 'flubby flub flubber flub'. Nobody gets hurt. It is still not very good English.
Vicar: "Let's have a time of prayer."
No 1:"I really just want to thank you, Lord."
No 2:"Thank-you Jesus, that you have really helped my faith this week."
No 3:"Lord, I really, honestly, Lord, just honestly want to say really." *
Hands-down evangelicals tended (do they still?) to reach for the language they had grown up with in hymns, bibles, or statements of faith.
* This is approximately borrowed from the politely satirical Ship Of Fools website.
Next years local elections could be interesting- although it is hard to see what a load of potential councillors motivated by the Gaza issue will do for local services.
https://x.com/Trinhnomics/status/1905473903801368818
but here's the punchline
For this to work, the US will need to collaborate w/ low-cost country such as, VOILA MEXICO.
Mexican labor is cheap vs the US. So is Claudio gonna be a Trump whisperer and manage to be a winner of this? Well, if everyone is forced to sell to the US via making in the US and if somehow Mexico has an exemption, then you can see that Mexico can be a winner of nearshoring.
But what would it take for Trump to give Mexico this? Cooperation on making sure that it not only benefits Mexico but most importantly the US.
https://x.com/Trinhnomics/status/1905504366054015054
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VZU0weoVxk
@sarahnferris
News: Top Rs were so anxious about FL-06 that Trump’s own team and House GOP leaders personally intervened
A top Trump adviser warned Fine to get his house in order. Hudson and Emmer each told Fine to “get his sh*t together”
https://x.com/sarahnferris/status/1905402887661900018
It would put a question mark over the long-term stability companies would need in order to shift production to the UK, and put some confusion under his programme.
IME that is probably too long term (ie >2 years) to be how politics works in the USA.
Most people can work things out from the context.
It's actually a good way of bringing a dead metaphor back to life. Though that only really works as long as pedants keep complaining, so it's good that they do this service.
@rincewind.run
“sell your product at a loss, or else” was probably not what the business people were expecting from President Business
https://bsky.app/profile/rincewind.run/post/3llftvmrnbk2z
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