Howdy, Stranger!

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

Why Amanda Spielman should not be elevated to the peerage – politicalbetting.com

12357

Comments

  • AugustusCarp2AugustusCarp2 Posts: 292
    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    viewcode said:

    viewcode said:

    viewcode said:

    Reasons why Trump is genuinely evil, part 347 of lots

    NEW — After putting all Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) employees on administrative leave Monday, I'm told DOGE is canceling congressionally-appropriated grants to state libraries across the entire country. Libraries are getting notice that funding was canceled as of 4/1.

    More here: https://www.everylibrary.org/trump_termination_imls_grants

    SOURCE: https://bsky.app/profile/marisakabas.bsky.social/post/3llwdagmsh225

    HE's GOING AFTER THE LIBRARIANS. HOW CAN YOU TOLERATE THIS?
    Sash! This used to be a library.
    I'm not joking. I think Musk is evil to do this. How dare he, and how dare Trump empower him to do this. Bastards, both of them. And that's only because the mods wont let me use the proper word for them.
    I'm not sure if it's still there, but there used to be a sign in the Bodleian Library saying "Ask Google and get a million answers; ask a Librarian and get one, correct, answer". I fear that shutting down access to sources of objective truth is one of the standard hallmarks of a tyrant, and in my opinion that is what we are seeing right now. Of course, Joe Redneck will say, "Yeah, we don't need libraries, everything is on line now!" and that is exactly the problem - who controls what we see on line?
    You control what you see online....if you aren't capable of that then its a you problem not an us problem
    Is that right? If I make requests to a Chinese website for information about Tiananmin Square, I get fobbed off. I can't control what I cannot access. To take another example, I have just asked CoPilot for the last German election results, and it tells me "I know elections are important to talk about, and I wish we could, but there's a lot of nuanced information that I'm not equipped to handle right now. It's best that I step aside on this one and suggest that you visit a trusted source. How about another topic instead?"

    No information, and no control.
    Well there you see is your issue, you seem to think you should only have to goto one place instead of visiting multiple sources and comparing them.

    Let me reverse it....who do you trust to curate your information if not yourself. Yes that means you need to work at it and just not take 1 source as gospel.....guess what you can't do that with a library book either as they are often equally full of misinformation
    Yes, I can go to more than one library, or visit more than one website, and in an ideal world I probably would. But books come from a variety of producers, publishers, authors and languages, and are available in a variety of repositories for centuries. If we are not careful we are going to end up with very few monopolistic search engines as our "libraries" , and we certainly won't be able to control them or influence what they allow our searches to find.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 20,005


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    AI chatbots and all that crap are accelerating that.

    Humans want to talk to a human who treats them like a human.
    Are the same people willing to pay the cost of that?
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 10,683

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    viewcode said:

    viewcode said:

    viewcode said:

    Reasons why Trump is genuinely evil, part 347 of lots

    NEW — After putting all Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) employees on administrative leave Monday, I'm told DOGE is canceling congressionally-appropriated grants to state libraries across the entire country. Libraries are getting notice that funding was canceled as of 4/1.

    More here: https://www.everylibrary.org/trump_termination_imls_grants

    SOURCE: https://bsky.app/profile/marisakabas.bsky.social/post/3llwdagmsh225

    HE's GOING AFTER THE LIBRARIANS. HOW CAN YOU TOLERATE THIS?
    Sash! This used to be a library.
    I'm not joking. I think Musk is evil to do this. How dare he, and how dare Trump empower him to do this. Bastards, both of them. And that's only because the mods wont let me use the proper word for them.
    I'm not sure if it's still there, but there used to be a sign in the Bodleian Library saying "Ask Google and get a million answers; ask a Librarian and get one, correct, answer". I fear that shutting down access to sources of objective truth is one of the standard hallmarks of a tyrant, and in my opinion that is what we are seeing right now. Of course, Joe Redneck will say, "Yeah, we don't need libraries, everything is on line now!" and that is exactly the problem - who controls what we see on line?
    You control what you see online....if you aren't capable of that then its a you problem not an us problem
    Is that right? If I make requests to a Chinese website for information about Tiananmin Square, I get fobbed off. I can't control what I cannot access. To take another example, I have just asked CoPilot for the last German election results, and it tells me "I know elections are important to talk about, and I wish we could, but there's a lot of nuanced information that I'm not equipped to handle right now. It's best that I step aside on this one and suggest that you visit a trusted source. How about another topic instead?"

    No information, and no control.
    Well there you see is your issue, you seem to think you should only have to goto one place instead of visiting multiple sources and comparing them.

    Let me reverse it....who do you trust to curate your information if not yourself. Yes that means you need to work at it and just not take 1 source as gospel.....guess what you can't do that with a library book either as they are often equally full of misinformation
    Yes, I can go to more than one library, or visit more than one website, and in an ideal world I probably would. But books come from a variety of producers, publishers, authors and languages, and are available in a variety of repositories for centuries. If we are not careful we are going to end up with very few monopolistic search engines as our "libraries" , and we certainly won't be able to control them or influence what they allow our searches to find.
    What difference does it make if books come from a variety of producers, publishers, authors and languages....so do websites. A wrong book is a wrong book so is a wrong website. The difference is its easier to check out other websites than other books.

    Don't trust search engines use your own web crawler to index....there are free ones out there
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,097
    Pagan2 said:

    viewcode said:

    Leon said:

    MattW said:

    Leon said:

    Roger said:

    IanB2 said:

    isam said:

    Quite a brave image to go with from Labour in the era of blackface cancellations. It’s not blackface, but is in the ball park I think, especially as it’s only half the face that isn’t Farage, the clothes are his



    https://x.com/uklabour/status/1908464212336050533?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    If that’s a genuine Labour campaign initiative, they need to fire the person responsible for it, consign it to the bin, and try and move on as soon as they can.
    It's got to be fake. Apart from the impossibility of executing the idea. The idea itself makes no sense
    It is genuine. Of course it might be sabotage from within, but it is from the official Labour account on X
    Leon's right here.

    This is a little better, but I think they'd be better promoting their own policy successes (!)
    :
    https://x.com/UKLabour/status/1908482499401179434
    I still can't believe they let the Kemi/Farage face-swap image see the light of social media day. It is APPALLING. Even as a basic image it is ugly and yuk. You really don't want that associated with your party. And there are so many other levels on which it fails....

    I see two explanations:

    1. Sabotage

    2. They are truly desperate
    Good afternoon

    Just seen this and it is simply disgusting and what on earth is Labour doing allowing such an unacceptable advert

    It should be withdrawn immediately and I wouldn't be surprised if an official complaint is made
    Indeed.

    Pause.

    Talking about unacceptable, here's an article pointing out that Badenoch received donations from climate change deniers before changing Conservative Party policy on net-zero

    https://bsky.app/profile/adambienkov.bsky.social/post/3lknchnx4f22b

    We have far too many politicians in all parties who can be bought.
    Isn't that the dictionary definition of politician.....one who is for sale?
    An honest politician is one who, once bought, stays bought.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,353

    kle4 said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @mikeysmith

    STORY

    Reform UK forced to suspend ANOTHER candidate

    https://x.com/mikeysmith/status/1908549080319504485

    One or two here and there is not huge in the grand scheme of things, but they do have to be careful to avoid causing people to ponder how many of the unsuspended have suspendable worthy views. As things stand they are on course for a good result, they just need to avoid tripping up.
    Hmmm.... I don't disagree with you, but I don't think they wil get the result which either they or some commentators are expecting. This is because 1) the other parties, quite rightly, are going to go hard on Farage as "Britain Trump" and his lack of support for Ukraine, and 2) winning elections on the ground is difficult and time-consuming, RefUK's membership and activists seem to be mainly elderly and inexperienced. The Air War and national media can get them only so far - after that it needs feet on the ground, organisation and lots of non-gender specific man-hours.
    I'm skeptical of the value of 'on the ground' efforts in general, at parliamentary level at least I think it is mostly cope and activists fooling themselves, but I do think it is more useful at local level, because turnout is generally lower and resources less extensive, so those who make more of an effort can lead to more positive results.

    Reform may still largely be banking on national profile and general discontentment to cause a breakthrough, which does require reaching a certain level of mass vote, and that is certainly still possible, but they have also definitely made more of an effort this time than ever before at a local election. My impression is that does not translate to that much on the ground activity, so it may be a bit famine and feast in different areas in terms of results, but at the least will mean their voteshare is respectable and they can point to growth.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,101


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    AI chatbots and all that crap are accelerating that.

    Humans want to talk to a human who treats them like a human.
    Are the same people willing to pay the cost of that?
    Are the same businesses willing to pay the cost of not doing it?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,097


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    That's hardly a new thing. It's been at least a quarter century since "interactive voice response" made talking to an actual human being near impossible.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,353
    edited April 5


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    AI chatbots and all that crap are accelerating that.

    Humans want to talk to a human who treats them like a human.
    Are the same people willing to pay the cost of that?
    No. So we end up with things we don't really want by default. And companies are making a technically sound choice by offering us worse service, because they know we'll put up with that.


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    AI chatbots and all that crap are accelerating that.

    Humans want to talk to a human who treats them like a human.
    Are the same people willing to pay the cost of that?
    Are the same businesses willing to pay the cost of not doing it?
    Yes.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 20,005
    edited April 5


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    AI chatbots and all that crap are accelerating that.

    Humans want to talk to a human who treats them like a human.
    Are the same people willing to pay the cost of that?
    Are the same businesses willing to pay the cost of not doing it?
    But those businesses are often quasi-public sector and it isn’t going to get any better if they are nationalised. If we want that service we need to pay for it. I am happy to pay for it, nationalised or not, but I doubt that is a commonly held view.

    Local councils are the worst of the lot for this.
  • AugustusCarp2AugustusCarp2 Posts: 292
    kle4 said:

    kle4 said:

    Scott_xP said:

    @mikeysmith

    STORY

    Reform UK forced to suspend ANOTHER candidate

    https://x.com/mikeysmith/status/1908549080319504485

    One or two here and there is not huge in the grand scheme of things, but they do have to be careful to avoid causing people to ponder how many of the unsuspended have suspendable worthy views. As things stand they are on course for a good result, they just need to avoid tripping up.
    Hmmm.... I don't disagree with you, but I don't think they wil get the result which either they or some commentators are expecting. This is because 1) the other parties, quite rightly, are going to go hard on Farage as "Britain Trump" and his lack of support for Ukraine, and 2) winning elections on the ground is difficult and time-consuming, RefUK's membership and activists seem to be mainly elderly and inexperienced. The Air War and national media can get them only so far - after that it needs feet on the ground, organisation and lots of non-gender specific man-hours.
    I'm skeptical of the value of 'on the ground' efforts in general, at parliamentary level at least I think it is mostly cope and activists fooling themselves, but I do think it is more useful at local level, because turnout is generally lower and resources less extensive, so those who make more of an effort can lead to more positive results.

    Reform may still largely be banking on national profile and general discontentment to cause a breakthrough, which does require reaching a certain level of mass vote, and that is certainly still possible, but they have also definitely made more of an effort this time than ever before at a local election. My impression is that does not translate to that much on the ground activity, so it may be a bit famine and feast in different areas in terms of results, but at the least will mean their voteshare is respectable and they can point to growth.
    Yes, on balance I agree. Certainly they seem to be a lot more clued up and effective in some places but not others (although of course that's true for all parties).
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 20,005
    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 10,683

    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?

    Perhaps because absolutely no one thinks we should get rid of all managers and admin staff
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 20,005
    Pagan2 said:

    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?

    Perhaps because absolutely no one thinks we should get rid of all managers and admin staff
    Could have fooled me
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 10,683

    Pagan2 said:

    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?

    Perhaps because absolutely no one thinks we should get rid of all managers and admin staff
    Could have fooled me
    Saying there are too many managers and too much admin =/= get rid of all managers and admin
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 27,440
    rcs1000 said:


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    That's hardly a new thing. It's been at least a quarter century since "interactive voice response" made talking to an actual human being near impossible.
    And go back before then and every episode of That's Life had stories about the crap customer service of the gas board, the water board, the electricity board and the post office (for telephones).
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,097


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    AI chatbots and all that crap are accelerating that.

    Humans want to talk to a human who treats them like a human.
    Are the same people willing to pay the cost of that?
    Are the same businesses willing to pay the cost of not doing it?
    My little insurance company has actual Americans answering every single call. It's a massive differentiator compared to big insurance companies who do everything possible to prevent you speaking to human beings (or have someone with barely comprehensible English in a call center in the Philippines.)
  • CatManCatMan Posts: 3,172
    edited April 5

    rcs1000 said:


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    That's hardly a new thing. It's been at least a quarter century since "interactive voice response" made talking to an actual human being near impossible.
    And go back before then and every episode of That's Life had stories about the crap customer service of the gas board, the water board, the electricity board and the post office (for telephones).
    Electricity board you say...

    https://youtu.be/h2QZprRgxDc?si=3LU7bLByd_zo9Eng
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 20,005
    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?

    Perhaps because absolutely no one thinks we should get rid of all managers and admin staff
    Could have fooled me
    Saying there are too many managers and too much admin =/= get rid of all managers and admin
    And how do you think that is going to make things better, huh?
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 10,683

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?

    Perhaps because absolutely no one thinks we should get rid of all managers and admin staff
    Could have fooled me
    Saying there are too many managers and too much admin =/= get rid of all managers and admin
    And how do you think that is going to make things better, huh?
    You get the right admin and you streamline processes so the same paperwork isn't performed over and over for one thing. Most places of work have plenty of useless admin regardless of whether public or private sector.

    Admin for the sake of admin is a waste, I merely suggest sort out the admin thats worth doing as it contributes ditch the rest. Then ensure the admin only needs to be done once, having worked in the health sector I can assure you its not uncommon for forms to be filled in multiple times as patients get passed from one place to another and its unnecessary
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,168
    This lass seems like one to watch for the future.

    Mallory McMorrow. She announced this week she's running in Dem primary for Senate for Michigan in 2026.

    "Democrats are very good at talking 'about' people, not 'to' people"

    Says a Dem colleague went to a state fair and was asked 'what's on your hat?'. MAGA has a hat with a message, what is the Dem message hat? That really struck her.

    Interviewed on Bulwark podcast:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoJ4H31Ua6o
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 8,615

    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?

    Suspect we need more managers/back office to be honest. Certainly need better IT systems.
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 10,683
    rkrkrk said:

    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?

    Suspect we need more managers/back office to be honest. Certainly need better IT systems.
    Just making it so forms didn't have to be refilled out all the time would be a huge start
  • isamisam Posts: 41,138
    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,975
    The trailer for "Tron: Ares" is out. I am in two minds: will it be barely acceptable or totally rubbish. Anyhoo...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVG_X_7Naw
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 10,683
    viewcode said:

    The trailer for "Tron: Ares" is out. I am in two minds: will it be barely acceptable or totally rubbish. Anyhoo...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVG_X_7Naw

    Can hardly be worse than the original
  • ChrisChris Posts: 11,878
    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?

    Perhaps because absolutely no one thinks we should get rid of all managers and admin staff
    Could have fooled me
    Saying there are too many managers and too much admin =/= get rid of all managers and admin
    And how do you think that is going to make things better, huh?
    You get the right admin and you streamline processes so the same paperwork isn't performed over and over for one thing. Most places of work have plenty of useless admin regardless of whether public or private sector.

    Admin for the sake of admin is a waste, I merely suggest sort out the admin thats worth doing as it contributes ditch the rest. Then ensure the admin only needs to be done once, having worked in the health sector I can assure you its not uncommon for forms to be filled in multiple times as patients get passed from one place to another and its unnecessary
    I wonder if Gallowgate didn't understand that "=/=" means "doesn't equal".

    That's the only way I can make sense of his response.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,097
    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Statistically, is there any group more likely to commit sexual offences than politicians?

    Considering how few MPs there are, they generate a staggering number of rapes and sexual assaults. Even Catholic priests can't match them.
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,232
    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Fucking Hell !!

  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,600
    rcs1000 said:

    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Statistically, is there any group more likely to commit sexual offences than politicians?

    Considering how few MPs there are, they generate a staggering number of rapes and sexual assaults. Even Catholic priests can't match them.
    Teachers in raw numbers, celebrities
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,600
    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Quite dramatic news, if he is convicted opens a way for Jacob Rees Mogg to return in the subsequent by election as Norris represents his old seat
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,600
    viewcode said:

    Reasons why Trump is genuinely evil, part 347 of lots

    NEW — After putting all Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) employees on administrative leave Monday, I'm told DOGE is canceling congressionally-appropriated grants to state libraries across the entire country. Libraries are getting notice that funding was canceled as of 4/1.

    More here: https://www.everylibrary.org/trump_termination_imls_grants

    SOURCE: https://bsky.app/profile/marisakabas.bsky.social/post/3llwdagmsh225

    Pretty awful news, though state libraries will at least have state government funding too
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,550
    rcs1000 said:


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    That's hardly a new thing. It's been at least a quarter century since "interactive voice response" made talking to an actual human being near impossible.
    WhatsApp have added a bot to my contacts. Just tried it out. "Hello", I typed, and it replied immediately saying hello back and asking about my day. We then had a chat about this and that. Very nice experience.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,632
    rcs1000 said:

    https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1908498779487039909

    China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless "whipping post," but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

    As a reminder, foreign direct investment into the US will cause a trade deficit.

    (See Pettis et al.)
    Does he have any vague justification for the $5trn number or is it just completely made up?
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,550
    rkrkrk said:

    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?

    Suspect we need more managers/back office to be honest. Certainly need better IT systems.
    Yes, if the "more doctors and nurses" mantra means deprioritising management and systems it would not be the best use of resource.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,550

    This lass seems like one to watch for the future.

    Mallory McMorrow. She announced this week she's running in Dem primary for Senate for Michigan in 2026.

    "Democrats are very good at talking 'about' people, not 'to' people"

    Says a Dem colleague went to a state fair and was asked 'what's on your hat?'. MAGA has a hat with a message, what is the Dem message hat? That really struck her.

    Interviewed on Bulwark podcast:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoJ4H31Ua6o

    The MAGA hat does indeed have a message. It says "I'm a plonker".
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,544

    rcs1000 said:

    https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1908498779487039909

    China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless "whipping post," but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

    As a reminder, foreign direct investment into the US will cause a trade deficit.

    (See Pettis et al.)
    Does he have any vague justification for the $5trn number or is it just completely made up?
    Could be the trading volume on the stock market during the rout.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,320
    edited April 5


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    AI chatbots and all that crap are accelerating that.

    Humans want to talk to a human who treats them like a human.
    Interesting.When I phone Barclays the phone recognises my face and with the press of a button I get a welcoming voice who knows who I am and the state of my accounts and are able to execute anything I want. The voice is invariably a strong regional accent and they're all notably friendly. Even conversational 'I'm stll excited by the match last night' 'You're Liverpudlian?' I ask. 'Yeh but Everton's my team.....'

    They say they take calls 24 hours a day and I don't doubt them. The NHS do it by using your NHS number through your phone. Utilities the same. I've never know it to be easier. It makes me wonder where the publicity seeking Luke Tryll finds his disgruntled focus groups.....
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,803
    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Early return to Westminster for JRM ? :open_mouth:
  • AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 1,514


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    AI chatbots and all that crap are accelerating that.

    Humans want to talk to a human who treats them like a human.
    Are the same people willing to pay the cost of that?
    Are the same businesses willing to pay the cost of not doing it?
    But those businesses are often quasi-public sector and it isn’t going to get any better if they are nationalised. If we want that service we need to pay for it. I am happy to pay for it, nationalised or not, but I doubt that is a commonly held view.

    Local councils are the worst of the lot for this.
    There might actually be some mileage for the government in dusting off the Citizen's Charter from the John Major era.

    You could imagine a modernised version which would work like the Food Standards Agency's successful 'scores on the door' campaign. The Cabinet Office already have a set of Customer Service Excellence standards, so it wouldn't take all that much to promote it and make it more widely used.

    You wouldn't want to make it a central part of a general election campaign or anything, but it's the sort of quality of life improvement that might prove useful in propping up the govt's hoped-for deliverism narrative.
  • FffsFffs Posts: 92

    rcs1000 said:

    https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1908498779487039909

    China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless "whipping post," but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

    As a reminder, foreign direct investment into the US will cause a trade deficit.

    (See Pettis et al.)
    Does he have any vague justification for the $5trn number or is it just completely made up?
    Could be the trading volume on the stock market during the rout.
    Thu+Fri equity volumes in US look like about $800B per https://www.cboe.com/us/equities/market_share/market/2025-04-04/
  • FffsFffs Posts: 92
    Fffs said:

    rcs1000 said:

    https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1908498779487039909

    China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless "whipping post," but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

    As a reminder, foreign direct investment into the US will cause a trade deficit.

    (See Pettis et al.)
    Does he have any vague justification for the $5trn number or is it just completely made up?
    Could be the trading volume on the stock market during the rout.
    Thu+Fri equity volumes in US look like about $800B per https://www.cboe.com/us/equities/market_share/market/2025-04-04/
    Wait, no - the table has more columns than my phone displayed. More like $2T
  • kjhkjh Posts: 12,399
    GIN1138 said:

    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Early return to Westminster for JRM ? :open_mouth:
    I would expect the LDs to go for this. Although they were nowhere at the GE (bigger fish to fry near by) they previously were competitive in one of the constituency that created this new constituency and with Lab/Tories not popular and with local decent organisations around the constituency it is worth a punt.
  • FossFoss Posts: 1,352
    Electoral Calculus' last MRP has North East Somerset and Hanham as 28%/28%/25% Lab/Con/Ref. A by-election would be an interesting show.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,097
    HYUFD said:

    rcs1000 said:

    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Statistically, is there any group more likely to commit sexual offences than politicians?

    Considering how few MPs there are, they generate a staggering number of rapes and sexual assaults. Even Catholic priests can't match them.
    Teachers in raw numbers, celebrities
    Yes, but there are millions of teachers. There are only 650 MPs at any time.

    And yet they gave us: the entire Liberal party in the 1970s, Imran Khan, Charlie Elphicke, most of the SNP, Keith Vaz, Rob Roberts, Andrew Griffiths, Mike Hill and many many more.
  • MJWMJW Posts: 2,008
    GIN1138 said:

    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Early return to Westminster for JRM ? :open_mouth:
    Doesn't it rather depend on whether he intends to fully fight the allegations? If he does, he's under no obligation to resign until convicted - which could be rather a long, drawn out process as has often been in these historic sexual abuse cases.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,236
    Should be an easy gain for the Fukkers if they can avoid their usual foible of selecting a very online middle aged far-right piece of shit with a troubling social media history as the candidate.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 44,550
    GIN1138 said:

    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Early return to Westminster for JRM ? :open_mouth:
    That would be most unfortunate.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,317
    Dura_Ace said:

    Should be an easy gain for the Fukkers if they can avoid their usual foible of selecting a very online middle aged far-right piece of shit with a troubling social media history as the candidate.

    About that….
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,128
    Dura_Ace said:

    Should be an easy gain for the Fukkers if they can avoid their usual foible of selecting a very online middle aged far-right piece of shit with a troubling social media history as the candidate.

    Wouldn't have said Rees-Mogg had that much presence online.
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 10,017
    Foss said:

    Electoral Calculus' last MRP has North East Somerset and Hanham as 28%/28%/25% Lab/Con/Ref. A by-election would be an interesting show.

    Yes, it would. It could even be a four way marginal.
    Labour could lose more than the 14.4% they (notionally) gained at the GE due to the cause.
    The Tories probably won't recover all of the 24.5% they lost
    Reform are likely to improve on their 14.5% share, but what is their ground game like?
    and as for the LibDems - well it's a by-election in a friendly area.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,030
    kle4 said:

    Nigelb said:

    This won’t be the last declaration of force majeure.

    Aircraft supplier Howmet may halt orders if hit by Trump tariffs, letter says

    https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/aircraft-supplier-howmet-may-halt-orders-if-hit-by-trump-tariffs-letter-says-2025-04-04/
    Howmet Aerospace, which supplies parts for planes built by Airbus and Boeing, may halt some shipments if they are impacted by tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
    Pittsburgh-based Howmet said in the letter to customers that it has declared a force majeure event, a legal practice that allows parties to a contract to avoid their obligations if hit by unavoidable and unpredictable external circumstances…


    Supplies most aerospace manufacturers in the US.

    Trump might like the idea of his policies being compared to an act of god.
    No question that he would. That he can do things on a whim to cause fear or love must be a powerful feeling.
    "..As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; They kill us for their sport."
  • logical_songlogical_song Posts: 10,017

    Foss said:

    Electoral Calculus' last MRP has North East Somerset and Hanham as 28%/28%/25% Lab/Con/Ref. A by-election would be an interesting show.

    Yes, it would. It could even be a four way marginal.
    Labour could lose more than the 14.4% they (notionally) gained at the GE due to the cause.
    The Tories probably won't recover all of the 24.5% they lost
    Reform are likely to improve on their 14.5% share, but what is their ground game like?
    and as for the LibDems - well it's a by-election in a friendly area.
    ... oh and I nearly forgot, the Trump supporting parties led by Kemi and Farage might be hit a bit,
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,168
    MeidasTouch
    @MeidasTouch
    ·
    2h
    WOW: Thousands are currently protesting in Boston. This is just one of more than 1200 'Hands Off' protests underway today across the nation as people rise up against the Trump-Musk regime. (via
    @RobWayTV
    )

    https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/1908551565574881572
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,030

    rcs1000 said:

    https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1908498779487039909

    China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless "whipping post," but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

    As a reminder, foreign direct investment into the US will cause a trade deficit.

    (See Pettis et al.)
    Does he have any vague justification for the $5trn number or is it just completely made up?
    Could be the trading volume on the stock market during the rout.
    It's approximately what Congress just voted to add to the deficit.
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,232
    kinabalu said:

    rcs1000 said:


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    That's hardly a new thing. It's been at least a quarter century since "interactive voice response" made talking to an actual human being near impossible.
    WhatsApp have added a bot to my contacts. Just tried it out. "Hello", I typed, and it replied immediately saying hello back and asking about my day. We then had a chat about this and that. Very nice experience.
    I had a very pleasant chat with Claude about winemaking the other day.

    I can see how this would be comfort for lonely people.
  • TazTaz Posts: 17,232
    Nigelb said:

    kle4 said:

    Nigelb said:

    This won’t be the last declaration of force majeure.

    Aircraft supplier Howmet may halt orders if hit by Trump tariffs, letter says

    https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/aircraft-supplier-howmet-may-halt-orders-if-hit-by-trump-tariffs-letter-says-2025-04-04/
    Howmet Aerospace, which supplies parts for planes built by Airbus and Boeing, may halt some shipments if they are impacted by tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
    Pittsburgh-based Howmet said in the letter to customers that it has declared a force majeure event, a legal practice that allows parties to a contract to avoid their obligations if hit by unavoidable and unpredictable external circumstances…


    Supplies most aerospace manufacturers in the US.

    Trump might like the idea of his policies being compared to an act of god.
    No question that he would. That he can do things on a whim to cause fear or love must be a powerful feeling.
    "..As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; They kill us for their sport."
    As Private parts to the gods are we, they play with us for their sport.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,868
    edited April 5
    ydoethur said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    Should be an easy gain for the Fukkers if they can avoid their usual foible of selecting a very online middle aged far-right piece of shit with a troubling social media history as the candidate.

    Wouldn't have said Rees-Mogg had that much presence online.
    You are not a keen viewer of Meet the Rees-Moggs? Or how about Jacob Rees-Mogg's State Of The Nation?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,097
    Dura_Ace said:

    Should be an easy gain for the Fukkers if they can avoid their usual foible of selecting a very online middle aged far-right piece of shit with a troubling social media history as the candidate.

    So you're saying that the RefUKers are ... errr ... screwed?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,097

    rcs1000 said:

    https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1908498779487039909

    China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless "whipping post," but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

    As a reminder, foreign direct investment into the US will cause a trade deficit.

    (See Pettis et al.)
    Does he have any vague justification for the $5trn number or is it just completely made up?
    I'll give you two guesses.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,128
    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1908498779487039909

    China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless "whipping post," but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

    As a reminder, foreign direct investment into the US will cause a trade deficit.

    (See Pettis et al.)
    Does he have any vague justification for the $5trn number or is it just completely made up?
    I'll give you two guesses.
    Oooh...ooh...tricky.

    Ummm.

    I'll go with 'vague justification.'
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,975
    ydoethur said:

    Taz said:

    kinabalu said:

    rcs1000 said:


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    That's hardly a new thing. It's been at least a quarter century since "interactive voice response" made talking to an actual human being near impossible.
    WhatsApp have added a bot to my contacts. Just tried it out. "Hello", I typed, and it replied immediately saying hello back and asking about my day. We then had a chat about this and that. Very nice experience.
    I had a very pleasant chat with Claude about winemaking the other day.

    I can see how this would be comfort for lonely people.
    Why bother with bots? Just come on PB.
    No. We are all real people on here. Perfectly normal in every way. Not even slighly bot[++..zztch..++..krtz..++]
  • Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 3,574
    If Trump's worse than Covid should we be stocking up with bog roll?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,128

    If Trump's worse than Covid should we be stocking up with bog roll?

    Well, there's a lot of shit he's causing.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,184
    ydoethur said:

    If Trump's worse than Covid should we be stocking up with bog roll?

    Well, there's a lot of shit he's causing.
    And the US economy is going down the pan.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,184
    ydoethur said:

    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1908498779487039909

    China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless "whipping post," but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

    As a reminder, foreign direct investment into the US will cause a trade deficit.

    (See Pettis et al.)
    Does he have any vague justification for the $5trn number or is it just completely made up?
    I'll give you two guesses.
    Oooh...ooh...tricky.

    Ummm.

    I'll go with 'vague justification.'
    So close
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,129
    viewcode said:

    The trailer for "Tron: Ares" is out. I am in two minds: will it be barely acceptable or totally rubbish. Anyhoo...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVG_X_7Naw

    I. want. to. watch. now! :)

    Even if it is totally rubbish.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 29,673
    Penddu2 said:

    I am currently in Madagascar - a very poor island whose main (possibly only) export to US is Vanilla. So someone in Trumpland has decided they should be hit by 45% tarrifs. As far as I know they have no tarrifs or barriers against American products. Just that they prefer European products. And Chinese. What does Trump think he can screw out of Madagascar??

    They should be buying more Harleys
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 98,353
    Since all would no doubt insist on being Trump backers, I wonder what about the local leadership plans is a step too far.

    The Montana Republican Party has censured nine state senators and will no longer consider them to be Republicans — but the senators say they hold firm to the conservative mantle and the party should not insert itself into legislative business.

    In a press release sent April 4, the party’s executive committee announced it had censured the nine senators for their “repeated alignment with Senate Democrats” this legislative session and for “undermining Republican priorities and leadership.”...

    In the letter, Kassmier said he is a conservative who supports the agenda of Republican President Donald Trump. Kassmier also accuses Senate President Regier, R-Kalispell, of “playing political games” to undermine Gov. Greg Gianforte’s agenda and of working with Democrats.

    “I support the conservative tax plans endorsed by Gov. Gianforte. I oppose the liberal tax plans pushed by President Regier,” the letter said. “ … The governor’s tax plans are consistent with the Montana Republican Party Platform. The tax plans pushed by President Regier are not.

    https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/politics/chaos-as-montana-gop-kicks-9-senators-out-of-the-republican-party-opinion/ar-AA1CmaXg?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=337c0ae0560446d8fce3c286b64a4fde&ei=16
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,544

    ydoethur said:

    If Trump's worse than Covid should we be stocking up with bog roll?

    Well, there's a lot of shit he's causing.
    And the US economy is going down the pan.
    U-bend if you want to. The Donald's not for bending.
  • Pagan2Pagan2 Posts: 10,683
    Chris said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Pagan2 said:

    Are the “get rid of all managers and admin staff in the NHS” brigade expecting doctors and nurses to sit there manning the phones all day?

    Perhaps because absolutely no one thinks we should get rid of all managers and admin staff
    Could have fooled me
    Saying there are too many managers and too much admin =/= get rid of all managers and admin
    And how do you think that is going to make things better, huh?
    You get the right admin and you streamline processes so the same paperwork isn't performed over and over for one thing. Most places of work have plenty of useless admin regardless of whether public or private sector.

    Admin for the sake of admin is a waste, I merely suggest sort out the admin thats worth doing as it contributes ditch the rest. Then ensure the admin only needs to be done once, having worked in the health sector I can assure you its not uncommon for forms to be filled in multiple times as patients get passed from one place to another and its unnecessary
    I wonder if Gallowgate didn't understand that "=/=" means "doesn't equal".

    That's the only way I can make sense of his response.
    Possibly
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,298
    Apparently in Tehran you can now get 1 million rials for a dollar
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,128

    ydoethur said:

    rcs1000 said:

    rcs1000 said:

    https://x.com/trump_repost/status/1908498779487039909

    China has been hit much harder than the USA, not even close. They, and many other nations, have treated us unsustainably badly. We have been the dumb and helpless "whipping post," but not any longer. We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN. HANG TOUGH, it won't be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

    As a reminder, foreign direct investment into the US will cause a trade deficit.

    (See Pettis et al.)
    Does he have any vague justification for the $5trn number or is it just completely made up?
    I'll give you two guesses.
    Oooh...ooh...tricky.

    Ummm.

    I'll go with 'vague justification.'
    So close
    The correct answer, pace Blackadder, is 'one more guess.'
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,128
    nico67 said:

    The IDF finally admits they slaughtered medics in Gaza after they were caught lying when video footage clearly shows they knew they were medics and decided to execute them .

    The IDF are out of control enabled by Netanyahu and the rest of the genocidal maniacs in his cabinet .

    Netanyahu may or may not be a genocidal maniac. Personally, I think it more likely he's resumed the war because when it finishes he's toast. Between corruption charges and his gross dereliction of duty on October 7th 2022 he will be spending the rest of his life in jail.

    And that's actually an even darker scenario than yours.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,168
    kamski said:

    Apparently in Tehran you can now get 1 million rials for a dollar

    Is this good or bad?
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,202
    ydoethur said:

    nico67 said:

    The IDF finally admits they slaughtered medics in Gaza after they were caught lying when video footage clearly shows they knew they were medics and decided to execute them .

    The IDF are out of control enabled by Netanyahu and the rest of the genocidal maniacs in his cabinet .

    Netanyahu may or may not be a genocidal maniac. Personally, I think it more likely he's resumed the war because when it finishes he's toast. Between corruption charges and his gross dereliction of duty on October 7th 2022 he will be spending the rest of his life in jail.

    And that's actually an even darker scenario than yours.
    Especially since something similar probably applies to the American Administration.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,298

    kamski said:

    Apparently in Tehran you can now get 1 million rials for a dollar

    Is this good or bad?
    I assume it means the Iranian economy is going down the pan faster than the American economy. (cue Trump: "We're winning bigly!")

    Is that good or bad?
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,298
    I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Musk saying today he wants to see 'zero tariffs' between Europe and America.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,320
    nico67 said:

    Let’s think about what happened . The IDF identified ambulances and then decided to execute the medics , they then proceeded to try and cover up their actions by burying the medics in a shallow grave and crush the ambulances. Their lies only came to light because of mobile phone footage which clearly showed the execution.

    To slaughter those who are trying to save lives is utterly despicable. Will those who committed this crime against humanity see punishment ?

    Not a chance in Hell. This isn't isolated it's a pattern that they've got away with for a long time. The only thing that's saved him and them is the pusillanimous behaviour of the USA and the impotence of of Europe. Hopefully that might now change
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,426
    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Brenda - "Not another one?!"
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,426
    ydoethur said:

    nico67 said:

    The IDF finally admits they slaughtered medics in Gaza after they were caught lying when video footage clearly shows they knew they were medics and decided to execute them .

    The IDF are out of control enabled by Netanyahu and the rest of the genocidal maniacs in his cabinet .

    Netanyahu may or may not be a genocidal maniac. Personally, I think it more likely he's resumed the war because when it finishes he's toast. Between corruption charges and his gross dereliction of duty on October 7th 2022 he will be spending the rest of his life in jail.

    And that's actually an even darker scenario than yours.
    7th October 2023.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,632

    viewcode said:

    viewcode said:

    viewcode said:

    Reasons why Trump is genuinely evil, part 347 of lots

    NEW — After putting all Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) employees on administrative leave Monday, I'm told DOGE is canceling congressionally-appropriated grants to state libraries across the entire country. Libraries are getting notice that funding was canceled as of 4/1.

    More here: https://www.everylibrary.org/trump_termination_imls_grants

    SOURCE: https://bsky.app/profile/marisakabas.bsky.social/post/3llwdagmsh225

    HE's GOING AFTER THE LIBRARIANS. HOW CAN YOU TOLERATE THIS?
    Sash! This used to be a library.
    I'm not joking. I think Musk is evil to do this. How dare he, and how dare Trump empower him to do this. Bastards, both of them. And that's only because the mods wont let me use the proper word for them.
    I'm not sure if it's still there, but there used to be a sign in the Bodleian Library saying "Ask Google and get a million answers; ask a Librarian and get one, correct, answer". I fear that shutting down access to sources of objective truth is one of the standard hallmarks of a tyrant, and in my opinion that is what we are seeing right now. Of course, Joe Redneck will say, "Yeah, we don't need libraries, everything is on line now!" and that is exactly the problem - who controls what we see on line?
    This is also a cancelling of congressional funds which is a total usurp of power by
    executive etc.

    One day I hope this gang will be held properly accountable by the law.
    That’s what I don’t understand.

    A majority of politicians, especially in the US, go into politics because of power and prestige

    But Congress is standing by and letting the executive take all their power with nary a whisper. Is it really just prestige?
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,426

    ydoethur said:

    If Trump's worse than Covid should we be stocking up with bog roll?

    Well, there's a lot of shit he's causing.
    And the US economy is going down the pan.
    U-bend if you want to. The Donald's not for bending.
    https://vf.politicalbetting.com/discussion/comment/5153404#Comment_5153404
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,398
    AlsoLei said:


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    AI chatbots and all that crap are accelerating that.

    Humans want to talk to a human who treats them like a human.
    Are the same people willing to pay the cost of that?
    Are the same businesses willing to pay the cost of not doing it?
    But those businesses are often quasi-public sector and it isn’t going to get any better if they are nationalised. If we want that service we need to pay for it. I am happy to pay for it, nationalised or not, but I doubt that is a commonly held view.

    Local councils are the worst of the lot for this.
    There might actually be some mileage for the government in dusting off the Citizen's Charter from the John Major era.

    You could imagine a modernised version which would work like the Food Standards Agency's successful 'scores on the door' campaign. The Cabinet Office already have a set of Customer Service Excellence standards, so it wouldn't take all that much to promote it and make it more widely used.

    You wouldn't want to make it a central part of a general election campaign or anything, but it's the sort of quality of life improvement that might prove useful in propping up the govt's hoped-for deliverism narrative.
    Most Councils have some form of Customer Care/Customer Service KPIs to which their own call centre or staff have to adhere. I'm not sure imposing national standards would be seen as anything more than pointless centralisation (and how good are some parts of Central Government at responding to calls?)
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,996

    isam said:

    EXCL - Labour MP Dan Norris has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sexual offences.

    Labour have suspended him from the party over the allegations.


    https://x.com/kateferguson4/status/1908569347359993902?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q

    Brenda - "Not another one?!"
    How many have either been arrested and or charged so far...
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,298
    Roger said:
    The day after the German election Merz claimed he would invite Netanyahu to Germany and "find ways" to make sure he isn't arrested*, saying ""I think it is a completely absurd idea that an Israeli Prime Minister cannot visit the Federal Republic of Germany. He will be able to visit Germany." This will no doubt be yet another U-turn Merz will find himself having to make.

    *According to this German legal magazine there is no legal way to do that.
    https://www.lto.de/recht/hintergruende/h/merz-netanyahu-visit-arrest-warrant-icc-surrender
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,128

    ydoethur said:

    nico67 said:

    The IDF finally admits they slaughtered medics in Gaza after they were caught lying when video footage clearly shows they knew they were medics and decided to execute them .

    The IDF are out of control enabled by Netanyahu and the rest of the genocidal maniacs in his cabinet .

    Netanyahu may or may not be a genocidal maniac. Personally, I think it more likely he's resumed the war because when it finishes he's toast. Between corruption charges and his gross dereliction of duty on October 7th 2022 he will be spending the rest of his life in jail.

    And that's actually an even darker scenario than yours.
    7th October 2023.
    I was just testing...
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 73,128
    kamski said:

    Roger said:
    The day after the German election Merz claimed he would invite Netanyahu to Germany and "find ways" to make sure he isn't arrested*, saying ""I think it is a completely absurd idea that an Israeli Prime Minister cannot visit the Federal Republic of Germany. He will be able to visit Germany." This will no doubt be yet another U-turn Merz will find himself having to make.

    *According to this German legal magazine there is no legal way to do that.
    https://www.lto.de/recht/hintergruende/h/merz-netanyahu-visit-arrest-warrant-icc-surrender
    He'd be doing everyone including - perhaps especially - the Israelis a much greater favour by finding a way to have the bastard arrested at last.

    Just as we ought to have invited Trump over early in 2024 and nicked him on tax charges.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 14,398
    Evening all :)

    It's worth acknowledging how well Reform have done at getting candidates in place for not just the May elections but most local council by elections. As for how many of the 1,630 Reform candidates are anything more than paper candidates, well, you'll find many Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem and Green candidates are in the same boat.

    The Conservatives are defending majority control in 12 of the 14 County Councils and 7 of the 8 Unitary authorities so the starting point is probably the scale of their losses. The vote shares when these seats were fought (along with those contested in 2024) in 2021 were Conservative 36%, Labour 29% and LD 17% when nationally the Conservatives were leading by 8-10 points.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,632
    Penddu2 said:

    I am currently in Madagascar - a very poor island whose main (possibly only) export to US is Vanilla. So someone in Trumpland has decided they should be hit by 45% tarrifs. As far as I know they have no tarrifs or barriers against American products. Just that they prefer European products. And Chinese. What does Trump think he can screw out of Madagascar??

    To be fair if they are responsible for taking away the like button…
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,573
    stodge said:

    AlsoLei said:


    ‪Luke Tryl‬ ‪@luketryl.bsky.social‬
    ·
    21m
    Talk to people in focus groups about Broken Britain yes they mention the big stuff, struggling NHS, the cost of living but also how the state or private utilities seem to go out of their way to make life harder “you can’t speak to anyone” - that drives populist backlash and the appeal of chainsaws

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lm34m376y22z

    AI chatbots and all that crap are accelerating that.

    Humans want to talk to a human who treats them like a human.
    Are the same people willing to pay the cost of that?
    Are the same businesses willing to pay the cost of not doing it?
    But those businesses are often quasi-public sector and it isn’t going to get any better if they are nationalised. If we want that service we need to pay for it. I am happy to pay for it, nationalised or not, but I doubt that is a commonly held view.

    Local councils are the worst of the lot for this.
    There might actually be some mileage for the government in dusting off the Citizen's Charter from the John Major era.

    You could imagine a modernised version which would work like the Food Standards Agency's successful 'scores on the door' campaign. The Cabinet Office already have a set of Customer Service Excellence standards, so it wouldn't take all that much to promote it and make it more widely used.

    You wouldn't want to make it a central part of a general election campaign or anything, but it's the sort of quality of life improvement that might prove useful in propping up the govt's hoped-for deliverism narrative.
    Most Councils have some form of Customer Care/Customer Service KPIs to which their own call centre or staff have to adhere. I'm not sure imposing national standards would be seen as anything more than pointless centralisation (and how good are some parts of Central Government at responding to calls?)
    Ah, but central government are hard-pressed under-funded servants of the crown. Local government is lazy, and full of wasters who need to tighten their belts and come up to standard.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,734
    kamski said:

    I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Musk saying today he wants to see 'zero tariffs' between Europe and America.

    I don’t think that’s beyond the realms of possibility…if by America we mean Canada.

    We tried and failed to get a decent trade deal with Canada last year, and gave up. Now is an opportune moment for Carney, Starmer, whoever the Swiss/Icelandic/Norwegian equivalents are plus the support of Macron and Merz to create that elusive outer ring beyond the EU, with the EU members automatically members too. Call it the North Atlantic Free Trade Area (NAFTA) seeing as that acronym’s currently unused.

    Tariff free trade. Partial single market access, along Swiss lines. Liberalised mobility rules. Defence cooperation.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,573
    kamski said:

    I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Musk saying today he wants to see 'zero tariffs' between Europe and America.

    Thank goodness for at least one entirely unbiased voice of reason in TrumpWorld.
  • MJWMJW Posts: 2,008

    viewcode said:

    viewcode said:

    viewcode said:

    Reasons why Trump is genuinely evil, part 347 of lots

    NEW — After putting all Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) employees on administrative leave Monday, I'm told DOGE is canceling congressionally-appropriated grants to state libraries across the entire country. Libraries are getting notice that funding was canceled as of 4/1.

    More here: https://www.everylibrary.org/trump_termination_imls_grants

    SOURCE: https://bsky.app/profile/marisakabas.bsky.social/post/3llwdagmsh225

    HE's GOING AFTER THE LIBRARIANS. HOW CAN YOU TOLERATE THIS?
    Sash! This used to be a library.
    I'm not joking. I think Musk is evil to do this. How dare he, and how dare Trump empower him to do this. Bastards, both of them. And that's only because the mods wont let me use the proper word for them.
    I'm not sure if it's still there, but there used to be a sign in the Bodleian Library saying "Ask Google and get a million answers; ask a Librarian and get one, correct, answer". I fear that shutting down access to sources of objective truth is one of the standard hallmarks of a tyrant, and in my opinion that is what we are seeing right now. Of course, Joe Redneck will say, "Yeah, we don't need libraries, everything is on line now!" and that is exactly the problem - who controls what we see on line?
    This is also a cancelling of congressional funds which is a total usurp of power by
    executive etc.

    One day I hope this gang will be held properly accountable by the law.
    That’s what I don’t understand.

    A majority of politicians, especially in the US, go into politics because of power and prestige

    But Congress is standing by and letting the executive take all their power with nary a whisper. Is it really just prestige?
    They are terrified of Trump and his movement because it is genuinely cultish in nature. Even people who know what's going on is evil in a cult struggle to often leave it or correct its leaders because doing so carries bad personal immediate consequences for them.
Sign In or Register to comment.