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Should we be talking about a Nicola Sturgeon comeback? – politicalbetting.com

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  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 5,465
    Leon said:

    Eabhal said:

    maxh said:

    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.
    • Loch Morar is spookily deep.
    @maxh
    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.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,650
    eek said:

    Leon said:

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,394
    Eabhal said:

    ...

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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:

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-most-important-issues-facing-the-country?period=5yrs
    Do you think if JD Vance walked around Glasgow tomorrow everyone would just ignore him?
    That's your answer?
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,735
    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Nigelb said:

    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.

    Trump does not understand markets.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,250
    edited March 27
    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,650
    edited March 27

    Eabhal said:

    ...

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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:

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-most-important-issues-facing-the-country?period=5yrs
    Do you think if JD Vance walked around Glasgow tomorrow everyone would just ignore him?
    That's your answer?
    Foreign policy is electorally unimportant until it isn’t, as we saw with the Falklands, Iraq, Brexit and the Salisbury poisonings.

    Indeed why was Labour’s victory so far below expectations last year? Largely due to Gaza.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,155

    Eabhal said:

    ...

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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:

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-most-important-issues-facing-the-country?period=5yrs
    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.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,096
    Cookie said:

    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.
  • StereodogStereodog Posts: 787
    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,561

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    Nigelb said:

    Foxy said:

    Cookie said:

    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.

    My ★★★★ review of Rita, Sue and Bob Too on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/6jiKil
    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.
    Never realised you were married to Marf!
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,936
    edited March 27

    Eabhal said:

    ...

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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:

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-most-important-issues-facing-the-country?period=5yrs
    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.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,155
    edited March 27
    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.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,729

    ...

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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:

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-most-important-issues-facing-the-country?period=5yrs
    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.

  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,561

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    Nigelb said:

    Foxy said:

    Cookie said:

    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.

    My ★★★★ review of Rita, Sue and Bob Too on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/6jiKil
    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
  • LeonLeon Posts: 59,250

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    Foxy said:

    Foxy said:

    Nigelb said:

    Foxy said:

    Cookie said:

    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.

    My ★★★★ review of Rita, Sue and Bob Too on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/6jiKil
    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
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,679
    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.
  • Northern_AlNorthern_Al Posts: 8,731
    Cookie said:

    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.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,096
    A pint of Ruddles in Wetherspoons is usually about £1.80.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,551
    Eabhal said:

    maxh said:

    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.
    • Loch Morar is spookily deep.
    @maxh
    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.
  • TresTres Posts: 2,775
    ohnotnow said:

    Eabhal said:

    ...

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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:

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-most-important-issues-facing-the-country?period=5yrs
    Do you think if JD Vance walked around Glasgow tomorrow everyone would just ignore him?
    I don't think they'd have the faintest idea who he was, by and large.
    is he a catholic vance or a protestant vance?
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,975
    Andy_JS said:

    A pint of Ruddles in Wetherspoons is usually about £1.80.

    And it’s grim
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,729

    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.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,000
    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Nigelb said:

    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/

    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.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,936
    edited March 27

    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.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,972
    Andy_JS said:

    Cookie said:

    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.
  • No_Offence_AlanNo_Offence_Alan Posts: 4,906
    Eabhal said:

    maxh said:

    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.
    • Loch Morar is spookily deep.
    @maxh
    Unfortunately tours of Cruachan power station "The Hollow Mountain" are currently suspended, otherwise that could be worth a visit.
  • pm215pm215 Posts: 1,220
    Foxy said:

    ...

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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:

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-most-important-issues-facing-the-country?period=5yrs
    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.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,453
    Eabhal said:

    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.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,936
    edited March 27
    ON TOPIC

    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
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,729
    rcs1000 said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Cookie said:

    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.

    Of course that were a weeks wages at the time...
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,729
    pm215 said:

    Foxy said:

    ...

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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:

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-most-important-issues-facing-the-country?period=5yrs
    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.

  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,096
    "A quarter of Britons now disabled

    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
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 5,509
    edited March 27

    Andy_JS said:

    A pint of Ruddles in Wetherspoons is usually about £1.80.

    And it’s grim
    It's a worse pint than the £1.80 Greene King IPA served in the Wetherspoons which don't serve Ruddles. And that's saying something.

    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.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,458
    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,458
    Albanese calls Australian election for May with his Labor party neck and neck with the Coalition
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,000
    HYUFD said:

    Albanese calls Australian election for May with his Labor party neck and neck with the Coalition

    Does it look neck and neck to you?

    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.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,972
    Andy_JS said:

    "A quarter of Britons now disabled

    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

    £1.80 pints will do that
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,303

    HYUFD said:

    Albanese calls Australian election for May with his Labor party neck and neck with the Coalition

    Does it look neck and neck to you?

    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.
    Looks like he’s a little ahead on the two-party preferred vote.
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,000
    RobD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Albanese calls Australian election for May with his Labor party neck and neck with the Coalition

    Does it look neck and neck to you?

    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.
    Looks like he’s a little ahead on the two-party preferred vote.
    It’s been in the bag for a long time.

    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.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,096
    From VoteUK forum

    "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%"
  • bigglesbiggles Posts: 6,735

    Andy_JS said:

    A pint of Ruddles in Wetherspoons is usually about £1.80.

    And it’s grim
    But the beer’s ok…

    Here all week.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,356
    Andy_JS said:

    From VoteUK forum

    "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%"

    Ooh, that slipped under the radar! One of the wards in the South Ilford Massive territory.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,356
    RobD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Albanese calls Australian election for May with his Labor party neck and neck with the Coalition

    Does it look neck and neck to you?

    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.
    Looks like he’s a little ahead on the two-party preferred vote.
    The Liberal and other right wing parties won the "First Preferences" back in 2022 - just!:

    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!)
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,096

    Andy_JS said:

    From VoteUK forum

    "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%"

    Ooh, that slipped under the radar! One of the wards in the South Ilford Massive territory.
    I was in that area a few weeks ago, at the Ilford Travelodge.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,356
    Andy_JS said:

    Andy_JS said:

    From VoteUK forum

    "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%"

    Ooh, that slipped under the radar! One of the wards in the South Ilford Massive territory.
    I was in that area a few weeks ago, at the Ilford Travelodge.
    Why didn't you tell me? I only live a mile or so away in Gants Hill!
  • ExiledInScotlandExiledInScotland Posts: 1,534
    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.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,458

    HYUFD said:

    Albanese calls Australian election for May with his Labor party neck and neck with the Coalition

    Does it look neck and neck to you?

    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.
    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
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,000
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Albanese calls Australian election for May with his Labor party neck and neck with the Coalition

    Does it look neck and neck to you?

    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.
    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? 🤦‍♀️
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,000

    Andy_JS said:

    Andy_JS said:

    From VoteUK forum

    "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%"

    Ooh, that slipped under the radar! One of the wards in the South Ilford Massive territory.
    I was in that area a few weeks ago, at the Ilford Travelodge.
    Why didn't you tell me? I only live a mile or so away in Gants Hill!
    You might have just answered your own question 😆
  • FossFoss Posts: 1,332
    Andy_JS said:

    From VoteUK forum

    "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%"

    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.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,458

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Albanese calls Australian election for May with his Labor party neck and neck with the Coalition

    Does it look neck and neck to you?

    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.
    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
  • MoonRabbitMoonRabbit Posts: 14,000
    Foss said:

    Andy_JS said:

    From VoteUK forum

    "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%"

    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.
  • FossFoss Posts: 1,332
    Foss said:

    Andy_JS said:

    From VoteUK forum

    "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%"

    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.
    She appears to have come second at the last GE.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,356
    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%)

    Remember - this is just for a bit of fun!

    Source: www.772.com :)

  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,915
    Long Good Friday was 1980. Empire Strikes Back was filmed in England, as was Aliens
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,096
    edited March 28
    viewcode said:

    Long Good Friday was 1980. Empire Strikes Back was filmed in England, as was Aliens

    One of the best films ever in my opinion, Long Good Friday. The atmosphere more than the plot, although the plot isn't bad either.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 43,100
    ..
    HYUFD said:

    Albanese calls Australian election for May with his Labor party neck and neck with the Coalition

    Plenty of time for Albanese to pick a fight with Trump.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,130
    Nigelb said:

    JD is as thin skinned as the big boss.

    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...

    Vanity vanity Vance.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,378
    Trump doesn't understand how tariffs work...

    @nicktimiraos.bsky.social‬

    Trump tells automakers: You better not raise car prices because of tariffs.

    https://bsky.app/profile/nicktimiraos.bsky.social/post/3llfqy5qylk2s
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,130
    edited March 28
    Leon said:

    eg a Random Brazilian Youtuber with 15k followers, reacting to Starmer's CONFIRMATION of the Ninja sword banning

    https://x.com/danvasc2/status/1905274239654993971

    Dan Vasc
    @danvasc2
    I'm Brazilian and my government is retarded, but holy shit you people

    15.5K Views

    It's him that's retarded, or perhaps he does not know better.

    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.)
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,561

    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.

    Logical deduction is not evidence
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,199

    TimS said:

    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Nigelb said:

    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...
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,770
    Eabhal said:

    Eabhal said:

    ...

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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:

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-most-important-issues-facing-the-country?period=5yrs
    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.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,378
    @yashar

    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
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,770
    Would anyone have predicted this, a year ago ?

    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.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,130
    edited March 28
    Andy_JS said:

    "A quarter of Britons now disabled

    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

    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.

    Full version:
    https://archive.is/20250328052647/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/a-quarter-of-britons-now-disabled-jhjzwcvbs
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,236
    rcs1000 said:

    Cookie said:

    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.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,130
    edited March 28

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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.)
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,378
    MattW said:

    the Tonka Tankers cost an extra 10-15%

    Trumpski has already told automakers not to raise prices...
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 623
    Scott_xP said:

    MattW said:

    the Tonka Tankers cost an extra 10-15%

    Trumpski has already told automakers not to raise prices...
    What a great idea. Hold prices in the face of costs and watch the share price tank or perhaps the company having to seek Chapter 11 protection.
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 623
    Eabhal said:

    ...

    Eabhal said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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:

    https://yougov.co.uk/topics/society/trackers/the-most-important-issues-facing-the-country?period=5yrs
    Do you think if JD Vance walked around Glasgow tomorrow everyone would just ignore him?
    I found Glasgow full of friendly people who were encouraging me to get into banking.

    "Hey pal, lend us some money for a cup of tea".
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,130
    Scott_xP said:

    MattW said:

    the Tonka Tankers cost an extra 10-15%

    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.

    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
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,797
    eek said:

    Eabhal said:

    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.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,394
    kamski said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Cookie said:

    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.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,797
    edited March 28
    MattW said:

    Andy_JS said:

    "A quarter of Britons now disabled

    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

    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.

    Full version:
    https://archive.is/20250328052647/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/a-quarter-of-britons-now-disabled-jhjzwcvbs
    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.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,130
    edited March 28
    kamski said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Cookie said:

    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". :wink:

    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.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,199
    Scott_xP said:

    Trump doesn't understand how tariffs work...

    @nicktimiraos.bsky.social‬

    Trump tells automakers: You better not raise car prices because of tariffs.

    https://bsky.app/profile/nicktimiraos.bsky.social/post/3llfqy5qylk2s

    His next comments will be along the lines of "You better not go bust."

  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,926
    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,926
    lol, the cashless society has hugely reduced the number of NHS procedures on kids who have swallowed coins
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,926
    edited March 28
    Foss said:

    Andy_JS said:

    From VoteUK forum

    "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%"

    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.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,378

    Scott_xP said:

    Trump doesn't understand how tariffs work...

    @nicktimiraos.bsky.social‬

    Trump tells automakers: You better not raise car prices because of tariffs.

    https://bsky.app/profile/nicktimiraos.bsky.social/post/3llfqy5qylk2s

    His next comments will be along the lines of "You better not go bust."

    Long thread

    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
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,926
    Andy_JS said:

    Andy_JS said:

    From VoteUK forum

    "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%"

    Ooh, that slipped under the radar! One of the wards in the South Ilford Massive territory.
    I was in that area a few weeks ago, at the Ilford Travelodge.
    I hope you got one of the rooms with a panoramic view of the town hall car park?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,199
    A Florida Trump +30 seat in November is looking very tight in next week's special election:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VZU0weoVxk
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,378

    A Florida Trump +30 seat in November is looking very tight in next week's special election:

    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
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,926

    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Nigelb said:

    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/

    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.
    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...
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,130
    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.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,199
    Scott_xP said:

    A Florida Trump +30 seat in November is looking very tight in next week's special election:

    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
    Trump sticking 25% on monster trucks is really the White House getting its shit together on a winning narrative...
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,236
    edited March 28

    kamski said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Cookie said:

    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.

  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,378

    Scott_xP said:

    A Florida Trump +30 seat in November is looking very tight in next week's special election:

    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
    Trump sticking 25% on monster trucks is really the White House getting its shit together on a winning narrative...
    Except Trump has told them not to raise prices

    @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
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 50,729
    Scott_xP said:

    MattW said:

    the Tonka Tankers cost an extra 10-15%

    Trumpski has already told automakers not to raise prices...
    So who is going to pay the tariffs?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,199
    Scott_xP said:

    Scott_xP said:

    A Florida Trump +30 seat in November is looking very tight in next week's special election:

    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
    Trump sticking 25% on monster trucks is really the White House getting its shit together on a winning narrative...
    Except Trump has told them not to raise prices

    @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
    China's automotive industry having a good laugh. "Is he one of OUR assets? We thought he was Putin's?"
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 37,378
    Foxy said:

    Scott_xP said:

    MattW said:

    the Tonka Tankers cost an extra 10-15%

    Trumpski has already told automakers not to raise prices...
    So who is going to pay the tariffs?
    Exactly...
  • No_Offence_AlanNo_Offence_Alan Posts: 4,906

    eek said:

    Eabhal said:

    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.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,236
    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,394
    kamski said:

    kamski said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Cookie said:

    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.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,375

    NEW THREAD

  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,775
    kamski said:

    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    Interesting commentary from CNN:

    https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/03/25/cnns_enten_trump_is_more_popular_than_ever_americans_who_think_were_on_the_right_track_through_the_roof.html

    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”?
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,236

    kamski said:

    kamski said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Cookie said:

    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.
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