Watching Albanese and Macron eulogising the Pope, Starmer's evil, heretical, godless silence is deafening!
Governor Starmer of the 51st state. Might win him some brownie points if one of Trump's first calls today goes, "This is Keir Starmer, Mr President. So that virtue-signalling punk in the Vatican who insulted your immigration policy died. Sad huh? Just wanted to ask whether you think my tweet will be okay, Sir".
Looking at his timeline, he posted about Easter quite a few times, and most were perfectly fine. It was just the ‘I want to thank Christians for their huge contributions to our country’ line that I disliked
Yes and it looks like the Conservative vote will be a little better and Liberals less well distributed than in 2021. My predictions are:
a) Liberals largest party b) Liberals + NDP does not make a majority c) Conservatives and BQ will be a majority
That'll be a bit of a constitutional problem as the Governor-General has never called on the leader of the 2nd largest party to become Prime Minister (1925 was an attempt of the incumbent to carry on after losing the election).
And the Conservatives and BQ are further apart than the Conservatives and Liberals anyway
Pope Francis spent his final Easter yesterday bearing witness to the faith he devoted his life to — a quiet presence at a time when the world needed humility, courage, and conviction.
His death on Easter Monday feels especially poignant. He reminded us that leadership isn’t about power, but about service. When I met him in 2022, he spoke warmly of the UK and the values we share. In a world that too often turns away from faith, he stood firm. May he rest in peace.
It's NOT surprising. Her ability to write and speak well is just another thing that Starmer, Davey, Farage and everyone at the BBC conspire to hide from the public.
I don't think that's quite fair. She has been *very* relaxed about doing media up until recently whilst Jenrick has been everywhere. It's great that she's woken up lately, and good for her - I agree with Rog it's a nice tribute.
I think Nigel Farage is aiming for support from ex Alba voters. Alba are imploding into factions, particularly since Alex Salmond’s death. I would not be surprised if Ash Regan, who was defeated in the vote for Salmond’s successor, and Chris McEleny, who has been expelled from the party, defect to Reform.
Reform are doing well in Scotland despite Farage not because of him. Richard Tice is even more hated. There will be no deal with Reform and either Labour or the SNP following the election. Scotland is tribal and it would be more likely to see the UDP support Sinn Fein. The sooner Farage shuts up the better for Reform.
The polls suggest the SNP have stabilised at 30% but recent by elections suggest their vote base is not motivated. Reform activists seem very energised but are small in number. I rejoined the Scottish conservative party a few weeks ago. I am one of just 7,000 members. That is one MSP per 230 members. In comparison the SNP has 1 MSP per 1200 members. Reform has about 6,000 members in Scotland.
Reform has a potential to strip away some of the young male vote from the SNP. This trend has been seen elsewhere in Europe. Otherwise they will take Labour votes mostly. The Tory vote depends entirely on the Tory party becoming real conservatives again and appealing to small business owners, farmers etc. It is almost inevitable we will be left with a highly divided Scotland at the end with no clear winner. In reality no one deserves to win.
My prediction is that Reform will end up closer to the Tories than any other party. Together they will make a block of about 30% of the chamber. SNP will have around 40% with the Greens and the Lab with Lib Dems will have around 30%.
Seems a reasonable forecast. If it's right that means no Indy-majority and opens the way for a "Grand Coalition" including both SNP and Labour who, indy-apart, are virtually indistinguishable on other issues. Possibly also the LibDems likewise indistinguishable. The can lick their gender-ID wounds together.
Suspect the Greens will sit it out after the numerous "betrayals" enacted by the SNP, plus the presence of wee free Kate Forbes in the administration.
Yep, apart from their policies on indy and welfare and WASPI and the EU and energy and immigration, the SNP and SLab virtually indistinguishable. Given the SCons are likely to take the biggest dunt on their current numbers, how big a wound do you think they’ll be licking? Perhaps they can ask Reform to help with the saliva salving.
Here’s a stat: If Liverpool hadn’t kicked another ball after beating Tottenham 6-3 on December 22, they would have still had more points (39) than Manchester United (38) currently have. That win in London was four months and 15 games ago.
Yes and it looks like the Conservative vote will be a little better and Liberals less well distributed than in 2021. My predictions are:
a) Liberals largest party b) Liberals + NDP does not make a majority c) Conservatives and BQ will be a majority
That'll be a bit of a constitutional problem as the Governor-General has never called on the leader of the 2nd largest party to become Prime Minister (1925 was an attempt of the incumbent to carry on after losing the election).
And the Conservatives and BQ are further apart than the Conservatives and Liberals anyway
They both don't like the Liberals, a common enemy can be an important motivator in politics.
Looking at his timeline, he posted about Easter quite a few times, and most were perfectly fine. It was just the ‘I want to thank Christians for their huge contributions to our country’ line that I disliked
Certainly got many people praying for divine intervention.
A Bishop and a Cardinal both die at the same time, and both get to Heaven.
St Peter ushers them into a waiting room, saying, 'The Lord will see you in a minute, there's something else come up.'
A moment later, a beautiful young woman walks through, and St Peter immediately ushers her in, saying, 'I have particular instructions from God that you are to see him right away.'
The cardinal, offended, pipes up: 'St Peter, why would God see *that woman* before us, two faithful servants who feared him and followed him?'
St Peter looks at him. 'That young woman has just died crashing a sports car she bought a year ago. In that one year she has put the fear of God into more people than you both managed in all your lives.'
Dr. Oz: The uninsured “don’t have the right to health,” but should be given “a way of crawling back out of the abyss” with “15-minute physicals” provided by the government “in a festival like setting.” https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1913614548591853824
There are bound to be MAGA people pledging Trump as Pope. Or at least demanding that the new Pope denounce heathen Europeans sinning against Him by having food standards or charging VAT
Trump is Protestant and not celibate so ineligible
He’s also a simpleton and a convict but that didn’t stop him becoming President.
Too often the coverage [of the Supreme Court Judgement] has focused on what this means for an individual politician (Sturgeon) not on the systematic dishonesty of pretty much every political party. And no-one has explored why the fury now is so great & whether the long-standing dishonesty is one of its causes.
Dr. Oz: The uninsured “don’t have the right to health,” but should be given “a way of crawling back out of the abyss” with “15-minute physicals” provided by the government “in a festival like setting.” https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1913614548591853824
Sounds like they need a special centre where these people can be corralled to get fit and become good citizens.
Maybe name it Prora as the Americans are fond of reusing European place names.
There are bound to be MAGA people pledging Trump as Pope. Or at least demanding that the new Pope denounce heathen Europeans sinning against Him by having food standards or charging VAT
Trump is Protestant and not celibate so ineligible
There has NEVER been a requirement for the Pope to be celibate. How could we have had the Reformation if there'd ever been one?
It's Borgia-ing on ludicrous to suggest all popes have been celibate.
I don't believe any of them have been married, which is what celibacy means. (At least not in recent times, I'm not sure what the rules were 2000 years ago. Maybe you could be a bishop and married)
Saw some people saying that the Philippine bishop would be the first Asian pope, er no there have been a few, the first Bishop of Rome was from what is now the Golan Heights.
Apparently the only requirement is to be a Catholic Male, I am not sure what would happen if the successful candidate is already married.
Straight off the top of my head, Peter was married.*
They are officially required to be chaste, not celibate per se.
In reply to your further point, the rule until the 12th century was that priests could marry, but any appointed abbot, bishop or higher was forbidden to sleep with their wife on penalty of being unfrocked (er, yes, I do see the irony) and this remains the position in the Orthodox Church.
*Mark 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 9:5
A quick look at Wikipedia suggests that for the first 1000 years, celibacy wasn't required of priests. Not sure about bishops and popes though - in the Eastern church, priests can be married but only unmarried men can become bishops, in effect there is a different career path for bishops which is more monastic
I think celibacy - more precisely a ban against priests getting married - was so that the leadership's first loyalty was to the Church instead of creating dynasties. Mostly successful, but NB the Borgias
Nope. It was to prevent the dilution of the Church's lands to the offspring of priests and was introduced, IIRC, by or around the time of Gregory VII which was at a time of the fight between kings and popes which eventually saw the Catholic church prevail and assert itself over competing powers.
Yes. The same point as I was making. Also celibacy of the priesthood is primarily an administrative measure where doctrinal considerations serve to justify that decision.
So is it just an urban myth that celibacy for priests was introduced to stop the secrets of the confessional leaking via their wives?
Dr. Oz: The uninsured “don’t have the right to health,” but should be given “a way of crawling back out of the abyss” with “15-minute physicals” provided by the government “in a festival like setting.” https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1913614548591853824
Sounds like they need a special centre where these people can be corralled to get fit and become good citizens.
Maybe name it Prora as the Americans are fond of reusing European place names.
" Today, it houses a large youth hostel, a hotel, and holiday apartments."
If only we had a noom correspondent who could go and check it out...
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I have been absolutely hammered by a severe cold that lasted nearly two weeks, as have many of my students and several colleagues.
So there was something funky doing the rounds of the West Midlands.
Here’s a stat: If Liverpool hadn’t kicked another ball after beating Tottenham 6-3 on December 22, they would have still had more points (39) than Manchester United (38) currently have. That win in London was four months and 15 games ago.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I’ve had a stubborn cold for the last two weeks, so I’m an anomaly if that’s the case.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I’ve had a stubborn cold for the last two weeks, so I’m an anomaly if that’s the case.
Seems like I in my SE London bolthole, my colleagues and my Warwickshire family have just been lucky.
Annoyingly there’s no data for colds, but I did stumble on this morbid little dashboard
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I've had more 'colds' than usual recently but they've been more full body than just head. It's been a long time since I had the classical "snotty sneezy nose, mild headache, yearning for pickles" variety.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
Before the pandemic I used to assume I'd get about one cold a year, but I had a very long period post covid without any kind of cold or coldlike illness, until I finally got a cold post-family-Christmas this year. My assumption is that other people being a bit more inclined not to come into the office with a cold has reduced my odds of picking up a cold at the office.(Since I don't have kids, the office is the main way I'd be catching anything.)
This effect may gradually tail off, but my guess is that now everybody's set up for hybrid working it's much easier to say "got a bit of a cold, will WFH this week" than when almost everybody was in the office all the time and didn't have a setup to work elsewhere.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
I think Nigel Farage is aiming for support from ex Alba voters. Alba are imploding into factions, particularly since Alex Salmond’s death. I would not be surprised if Ash Regan, who was defeated in the vote for Salmond’s successor, and Chris McEleny, who has been expelled from the party, defect to Reform.
Reform are doing well in Scotland despite Farage not because of him. Richard Tice is even more hated. There will be no deal with Reform and either Labour or the SNP following the election. Scotland is tribal and it would be more likely to see the UDP support Sinn Fein. The sooner Farage shuts up the better for Reform.
The polls suggest the SNP have stabilised at 30% but recent by elections suggest their vote base is not motivated. Reform activists seem very energised but are small in number. I rejoined the Scottish conservative party a few weeks ago. I am one of just 7,000 members. That is one MSP per 230 members. In comparison the SNP has 1 MSP per 1200 members. Reform has about 6,000 members in Scotland.
Reform has a potential to strip away some of the young male vote from the SNP. This trend has been seen elsewhere in Europe. Otherwise they will take Labour votes mostly. The Tory vote depends entirely on the Tory party becoming real conservatives again and appealing to small business owners, farmers etc. It is almost inevitable we will be left with a highly divided Scotland at the end with no clear winner. In reality no one deserves to win.
My prediction is that Reform will end up closer to the Tories than any other party. Together they will make a block of about 30% of the chamber. SNP will have around 40% with the Greens and the Lab with Lib Dems will have around 30%.
Seems a reasonable forecast. If it's right that means no Indy-majority and opens the way for a "Grand Coalition" including both SNP and Labour who, indy-apart, are virtually indistinguishable on other issues. Possibly also the LibDems likewise indistinguishable. The can lick their gender-ID wounds together.
Suspect the Greens will sit it out after the numerous "betrayals" enacted by the SNP, plus the presence of wee free Kate Forbes in the administration.
Yep, apart from their policies on indy and welfare and WASPI and the EU and energy and immigration, the SNP and SLab virtually indistinguishable. Given the SCons are likely to take the biggest dunt on their current numbers, how big a wound do you think they’ll be licking? Perhaps they can ask Reform to help with the saliva salving.
Most of the items you list are simply performative wishlist stuff and are both unaffordable and beyond the purview of devolution. In practice, at Holyrood, there is hardly a whisker between them.
Tories may well take a dunt but Farage is doing his level-best to dunt Reform's prospects in Scotland. Anyhow, it's more than 12 months off and, as we know, a week's a long time in politics - a year is an eternity.
J.D. Vance met Pope Francis yesterday and the Pope died today, is Vance the new Liz Truss given the way Queen Elizabeth II died two days after meeting Truss?
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
One of the two terminuses in Windsor has/had a cigar shop and is my benchmark for posh
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
And this is why it will be a terrible one for the Tories, even if they avoid a worse case scenario. Although Labour’s support has collapsed since the general election, it is the Conservatives who have most to lose next month. Not only were they riding high four years ago, but this year’s local elections take place almost entirely in traditionally true blue Tory territory.
Of the 23 councils balloting next month, all but four are currently controlled by the Conservatives. The party will be defending nearly a thousand of the 1,641 council seats at stake. Labour go into the election with fewer than 300 seats and the Liberal Democrats, with only just over 200.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
I'm sticking with Euston.
Stafford and Gloucester were built by the same pathetic excuse for a human being, but at least they have glimmers of sunlight in them.
The only real rival to Euston would be New Street.
Starmer has alienated his core 2024 voters and hence allowed reform in the back door.
1) everybody hates the social policies and cuts to benefits. 2) eu negotiations with red lines alienates everybody. The brexiteers hate any negotiation.... rejoiners hate the red lines. Everybody is unhappy. 3) brits overwhelmingly despise Trump... don't kiss his arse and bring him here.
Labour seems to not understand politics - you can't stay in power when you anger everybody rather than please somebody. It is basic strategy. If we have a maga style take over here it will be Starmer's fault for being a horrendous politician. He must get his 2024 voters on side: support the poor and throw red meat at rejoiners, stand up against trump. That or he is finished.
The Japanese trade delegation came to meet in good faith with Trump’s economic team and after a while, they realized that Trump’s team didn’t know what they wanted and lacked any authority to reach a deal. So they just left.
They know Mr Trump wants a 'good deal' but doesn't know one when he sees one.
No, he wants capitulation, I think. Just as with Ukraine.
He's so used to getting his own way during a lifetime of being an asshole, that I think he's genuinely unable to grasp the concept of negotiation.
That's what's driving members of a western alliance that's lasted three quarters of a century to confront the unpalatable choices ahead of them.
China is a deeply unappealing partner - but trading nations can ignore nether them nor the US. And it's getting to the point where it might be easier for not a few nations to work out deals with China that are in their own interest.
That's how disastrous Trump is.
Yes, he's an erratic bully, so even though China is worse plenty of nations will feel more confident they know what Emperor Xi wants.
Any suggestions for an electric car? Small but comfortable but not a Tesla. Someone said a BMW 3I but they dont make them anymore.
A bit of fun runabout?
Alpine A290/Renault 5.
All other answers are varying degrees of wrong.
The Renault 5 looks great - seems to have the perfect blend of nostalgia by keeping very close to the original but with enough modern touches.
I have decided I no longer have time or space to build my daily drivers from Copart wrecks or non-runners found in the large intestine of Facebook Marketplace. So I have bought my first ever brand new car - 150hp Renault 5 in Peroni/Jassaud yellow. The stock wheels are heavy cast junk so I'm putting OZ Racing Ultraleggeras on mine.
Mint. Mine? Absolute anchor-grade cast alus, probably weigh more than a pair of 4-pot Brembos and a seized H22 block. Swapping those for OZ Racing Ultraleggeras—15x7 ET35 wrapped in 195/50R15 Pilot Sport 5s, torqued to spec with a Snap-On digital. Already shed 6kg per corner and I haven’t even touched the unsprung weight up front—thinking coilover swap to Bilstein B14s and maybe a hybrid ARB from the Clio RS Cup parts bin.
Next step: EBC Yellowstuffs, braided HEL lines, DOT 5.1 flush, and possibly a cheeky remap via OBDLink MX+ and my guy who tunes with a laptop duct-taped to the passenger seat and a sixth sense for AFRs.
This thing’s gonna be a sleeper spec canyon scalpel before the warranty even knows what hit it.
Take it from somebody who actually is funny, you are not. So don't try.
Mate, these bite hard. Zero fade, even after a full blast down the Furka with a boot full of hubris and a nav unit screaming recalculations. Finish is obscene - like if the Bauhaus did CNC. You ever felt harmonic resonance through a cold-forged XJ19 end-to-end? Thought not. Triple-collared mounts, wet-bushed in moly, anodised in something they only use on satellite couplers. Full schwingenfreude at 8,000rpm, and that’s before the preload’s dialled in
Sure, the modern lads go for composite polymers - lightweight, thermally stable, blah blah. But me? NEED mass. Mine are hand-hewn from Sardinian basalt, face-balanced, interference-fit into a vintage ARX spec housing. Takes a while to warm up, sure, but once you're at temp - bro. You haven’t known true mechanical sympathy till you’ve taken a granite dildo to redline on a Tuscan long-weekender
There's something very odd about him (well, many odd things) in that he is impossible to parody.
If you had never heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you'd think the guy was completely batshit crazy. It's incredible how normalised we are to it now.
Here’s a stat: If Liverpool hadn’t kicked another ball after beating Tottenham 6-3 on December 22, they would have still had more points (39) than Manchester United (38) currently have. That win in London was four months and 15 games ago.
There's something very odd about him (well, many odd things) in that he is impossible to parody.
If you had never heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you'd think the guy was completely batshit crazy. It's incredible how normalised we are to it now.
I don't really know why Trump doesn't seem to employ someone on social. Not to censor his outbursts, which I think are his currency, but just to fill in the normal respectful sorts of statements (hopefully with a bit of Trumpy authenticity mixed in) that otherwise fall between the gaps. You'd think Reform could lend him someone if he can't find an American.
There's something very odd about him (well, many odd things) in that he is impossible to parody.
If you had never heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you'd think the guy was completely batshit crazy. It's incredible how normalised we are to it now.
And if you have heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you would still think he was batshit crazy.
Certainly got many people praying for divine intervention.
A Bishop and a Cardinal both die at the same time, and both get to Heaven.
St Peter ushers them into a waiting room, saying, 'The Lord will see you in a minute, there's something else come up.'
A moment later, a beautiful young woman walks through, and St Peter immediately ushers her in, saying, 'I have particular instructions from God that you are to see him right away.'
The cardinal, offended, pipes up: 'St Peter, why would God see *that woman* before us, two faithful servants who feared him and followed him?'
St Peter looks at him. 'That young woman has just died crashing a sports car she bought a year ago. In that one year she has put the fear of God into more people than you both managed in all your lives.'
I always liked the Robot Chicken sketch on an overly forgiving approach to heaven, with a guy walking past some rather dubious entrants.
Clown: I was a serial killer but repented in prison, and went to heaven
Crusader: I killed hundreds in the name of our Lord!
There's something very odd about him (well, many odd things) in that he is impossible to parody.
If you had never heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you'd think the guy was completely batshit crazy. It's incredible how normalised we are to it now.
And if you have heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you would still think he was batshit crazy.
Yes, but somehow the guy is the most powerful man in the world, which is a tad scary.
There's something very odd about him (well, many odd things) in that he is impossible to parody.
If you had never heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you'd think the guy was completely batshit crazy. It's incredible how normalised we are to it now.
I don't really know why Trump doesn't seem to employ someone on social. Not to censor his outbursts, which I think are his currency, but just to fill in the normal respectful sorts of statements (hopefully with a bit of Trumpy authenticity mixed in) that otherwise fall between the gaps. You'd think Reform could lend him someone if he can't find an American.
I feel sure he used to, there would always be ones clearly not crafted by him (no all caps etc), but either they are there no longer or they are but are going for that Trumpy authenticity a bit too hard on the 'sombre' messaging.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
J.D. Vance met Pope Francis yesterday and the Pope died today, is Vance the new Liz Truss given the way Queen Elizabeth II died two days after meeting Truss?
There's something very odd about him (well, many odd things) in that he is impossible to parody.
If you had never heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you'd think the guy was completely batshit crazy. It's incredible how normalised we are to it now.
I have heard of Trump (but wish I hadn't) and being completely batshit crazy is about the most complimentary thing I think about him.
There's something very odd about him (well, many odd things) in that he is impossible to parody.
If you had never heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you'd think the guy was completely batshit crazy. It's incredible how normalised we are to it now.
I don't really know why Trump doesn't seem to employ someone on social. Not to censor his outbursts, which I think are his currency, but just to fill in the normal respectful sorts of statements (hopefully with a bit of Trumpy authenticity mixed in) that otherwise fall between the gaps. You'd think Reform could lend him someone if he can't find an American.
Why should he? He is President and the Republicans line up to rim him. He is executing his policy agenda with no real opposition. He doesn't need to change his style of engagement and I highly doubt he'd be capable of it if he did.
There's something very odd about him (well, many odd things) in that he is impossible to parody.
If you had never heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you'd think the guy was completely batshit crazy. It's incredible how normalised we are to it now.
And if you have heard of Trump, and watched a series of his statements, you would still think he was batshit crazy.
Yes, but somehow the guy is the most powerful man in the world, which is a tad scary.
At least he has experienced, reliable, trusted advisors in key roles like defence and health, also a lot of long standing allies with friendly world leaders he can go to for guidance.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
Wick
You have a real downer on Wick
Could be worse. Could be his wick has a real downer.
"Preemptive Cuts" in Interest Rates are being called for by many. With Energy Costs way down, food prices (including Biden's egg disaster!) substantially lower, and most other "things" trending down, there is virtually No Inflation. With these costs trending so nicely downward, just what I predicted they would do, there can almost be no inflation, but there can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW. Europe has already "lowered" seven times. Powell has always been "To Late," except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?
Watching Albanese and Macron eulogising the Pope, Starmer's evil, heretical, godless silence is deafening!
For those who commiserate, my heart goes out to them on the death of the Pope.
As an individual human, just perhaps.
But there’s no institution on the planet that has inflicted more war and death and misery and abuse upon humanity than the Catholic Church.
Interesting claim, but is it true? Depends what you mean by “Institution”
If we take the Communist Party worldwide as an institution I imagine the Party has done worse, certainly in total deaths, than all the Popes
Just put Stalin, Lenin, Mao and Pol Pot together and you’ve got 100 million dead maybe? Plus indescribable torment? Then all the smaller “milder” commie parties from Cuba to Vietnam to Peru to numerous hideous African examples
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
Wick
You have a real downer on Wick
I like North-East Scotland, coast along Forres, Nairn, Cullen etc. When the sun is out and it's not brass monkeys it's rad. Great seafood, whisky and beautiful scenery.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
"Preemptive Cuts" in Interest Rates are being called for by many. With Energy Costs way down, food prices (including Biden's egg disaster!) substantially lower, and most other "things" trending down, there is virtually No Inflation. With these costs trending so nicely downward, just what I predicted they would do, there can almost be no inflation, but there can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW. Europe has already "lowered" seven times. Powell has always been "To Late," except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?
Trump's problem is that he can't get rid of Powell and Powell is in no rush to destroy his own reputation...
Watching Albanese and Macron eulogising the Pope, Starmer's evil, heretical, godless silence is deafening!
For those who commiserate, my heart goes out to them on the death of the Pope.
As an individual human, just perhaps.
But there’s no institution on the planet that has inflicted more war and death and misery and abuse upon humanity than the Catholic Church.
Interesting claim, but is it true? Depends what you mean by “Institution”
If we take the Communist Party worldwide as an institution I imagine the Party has done worse, certainly in total deaths, than all the Popes
Just put Stalin, Lenin, Mao and Pol Pot together and you’ve got 100 million dead maybe? Plus indescribable torment? Then all the smaller “milder” commie parties from Cuba to Vietnam to Peru to numerous hideous African examples
I will leave our Palmer to defend the communists, who I would certainly put second.
On top of which is all the child abuse, stunted lives and clerical inflicted misery of more recent centuries. Plus all the devastating consequences of that church’s preaching in Africa, in relation to AIDS in particular.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
Wick
Fenchurch Street. Although, TBF, I haven’t been there for years.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
The new-look ScotRail stations are ugly and utilitarian (particularly the passenger bridges over the lines), made worse by being brand new. So Leven, I guess.
On colds, I had my worse ever winter. Four in succession, all of which required WFH or days off. Has put my running back a few months because they got down into my lungs.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
It's not squalid, but Wrexham Central is definitely not posh being in the middle of a retail park.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
Wick
You have a real downer on Wick
I like North-East Scotland, coast along Forres, Nairn, Cullen etc. When the sun is out and it's not brass monkeys it's rad. Great seafood, whisky and beautiful scenery.
Trouble is: that's not very often.
Not true, it's a micro-climate up there. Hence the RAF bases.
Watching Albanese and Macron eulogising the Pope, Starmer's evil, heretical, godless silence is deafening!
For those who commiserate, my heart goes out to them on the death of the Pope.
As an individual human, just perhaps.
But there’s no institution on the planet that has inflicted more war and death and misery and abuse upon humanity than the Catholic Church.
Interesting claim, but is it true? Depends what you mean by “Institution”
If we take the Communist Party worldwide as an institution I imagine the Party has done worse, certainly in total deaths, than all the Popes
Just put Stalin, Lenin, Mao and Pol Pot together and you’ve got 100 million dead maybe? Plus indescribable torment? Then all the smaller “milder” commie parties from Cuba to Vietnam to Peru to numerous hideous African examples
I will leave our Palmer to defend the communists, who I would certainly put second.
On top of which is all the child abuse, stunted lives and clerical inflicted misery of more recent centuries. Plus all the devastating consequences of that church’s preaching in Africa, in relation to AIDS in particular.
The Roman church is up there but I reckon the commies come first
If you regard “Islam” as an institution (which is highly debatable, as it has no formal hierarchy like the commies or Left Footers) then they would be a contender. From the initial Muslim conquests to Tamerlane to the Mughals - we’re talking tens of millions dead, many millions of slaves, and on and on it goes, even today (the Taliban, etc)
Certainly as “a religion” I would say Islam has been even crueler and more devastating than Christianity
I’m a believer but organized religion has an extremely depressing history
Watching Albanese and Macron eulogising the Pope, Starmer's evil, heretical, godless silence is deafening!
For those who commiserate, my heart goes out to them on the death of the Pope.
As an individual human, just perhaps.
But there’s no institution on the planet that has inflicted more war and death and misery and abuse upon humanity than the Catholic Church.
Interesting claim, but is it true? Depends what you mean by “Institution”
If we take the Communist Party worldwide as an institution I imagine the Party has done worse, certainly in total deaths, than all the Popes
Just put Stalin, Lenin, Mao and Pol Pot together and you’ve got 100 million dead maybe? Plus indescribable torment? Then all the smaller “milder” commie parties from Cuba to Vietnam to Peru to numerous hideous African examples
I will leave our Palmer to defend the communists, who I would certainly put second.
On top of which is all the child abuse, stunted lives and clerical inflicted misery of more recent centuries. Plus all the devastating consequences of that church’s preaching in Africa, in relation to AIDS in particular.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
Wick
You have a real downer on Wick
I like North-East Scotland, coast along Forres, Nairn, Cullen etc. When the sun is out and it's not brass monkeys it's rad. Great seafood, whisky and beautiful scenery.
Trouble is: that's not very often.
Yes when you get the weather it is hard to beat but as you say it is a real hit or a miss.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
Wick
Fenchurch Street. Although, TBF, I haven’t been there for years.
Watching Albanese and Macron eulogising the Pope, Starmer's evil, heretical, godless silence is deafening!
For those who commiserate, my heart goes out to them on the death of the Pope.
As an individual human, just perhaps.
But there’s no institution on the planet that has inflicted more war and death and misery and abuse upon humanity than the Catholic Church.
Interesting claim, but is it true? Depends what you mean by “Institution”
If we take the Communist Party worldwide as an institution I imagine the Party has done worse, certainly in total deaths, than all the Popes
Just put Stalin, Lenin, Mao and Pol Pot together and you’ve got 100 million dead maybe? Plus indescribable torment? Then all the smaller “milder” commie parties from Cuba to Vietnam to Peru to numerous hideous African examples
I will leave our Palmer to defend the communists, who I would certainly put second.
On top of which is all the child abuse, stunted lives and clerical inflicted misery of more recent centuries. Plus all the devastating consequences of that church’s preaching in Africa, in relation to AIDS in particular.
The Roman church is up there but I reckon the commies come first
If you regard “Islam” as an institution (which is highly debatable, as it has no formal hierarchy like the commies or Left Footers) then they would be a contender. From the initial Muslim conquests to Tamerlane to the Mughals - we’re talking tens of millions dead, many millions of slaves, and on and on it goes, even today (the Taliban, etc)
Certainly as “a religion” I would say Islam has been even crueler and more devastating than Christianity
I’m a believer but organized religion has an extremely depressing history
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
Wick
You have a real downer on Wick
I like North-East Scotland, coast along Forres, Nairn, Cullen etc. When the sun is out and it's not brass monkeys it's rad. Great seafood, whisky and beautiful scenery.
Trouble is: that's not very often.
Some of north east Scotland is indeed pleasant, tho not remotely as beautiful as the West Coast
But Wick isn’t even in the “pleasant” bit. It’s up near the Flow Country, one of the ugliest places on God’s poor old planet earth
Watching Albanese and Macron eulogising the Pope, Starmer's evil, heretical, godless silence is deafening!
For those who commiserate, my heart goes out to them on the death of the Pope.
As an individual human, just perhaps.
But there’s no institution on the planet that has inflicted more war and death and misery and abuse upon humanity than the Catholic Church.
Interesting claim, but is it true? Depends what you mean by “Institution”
If we take the Communist Party worldwide as an institution I imagine the Party has done worse, certainly in total deaths, than all the Popes
Just put Stalin, Lenin, Mao and Pol Pot together and you’ve got 100 million dead maybe? Plus indescribable torment? Then all the smaller “milder” commie parties from Cuba to Vietnam to Peru to numerous hideous African examples
I will leave our Palmer to defend the communists, who I would certainly put second.
On top of which is all the child abuse, stunted lives and clerical inflicted misery of more recent centuries. Plus all the devastating consequences of that church’s preaching in Africa, in relation to AIDS in particular.
The Roman church is up there but I reckon the commies come first
If you regard “Islam” as an institution (which is highly debatable, as it has no formal hierarchy like the commies or Left Footers) then they would be a contender. From the initial Muslim conquests to Tamerlane to the Mughals - we’re talking tens of millions dead, many millions of slaves, and on and on it goes, even today (the Taliban, etc)
Certainly as “a religion” I would say Islam has been even crueler and more devastating than Christianity
I’m a believer but organized religion has an extremely depressing history
Doesn’t Islam mean Peace?
War is peace was not an original concept to Orwell, he just wrote it well.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
Wick
Fenchurch Street. Although, TBF, I haven’t been there for years.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
Wick
Wick's OK. A more forlorn terminus would be Heysham. Or maybe Holyhead.
"Preemptive Cuts" in Interest Rates are being called for by many. With Energy Costs way down, food prices (including Biden's egg disaster!) substantially lower, and most other "things" trending down, there is virtually No Inflation. With these costs trending so nicely downward, just what I predicted they would do, there can almost be no inflation, but there can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW. Europe has already "lowered" seven times. Powell has always been "To Late," except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?
Trump's problem is that he can't get rid of Powell and Powell is in no rush to destroy his own reputation...
Handy to be able to blame somebody else for the state of the economy though...
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
Watching Albanese and Macron eulogising the Pope, Starmer's evil, heretical, godless silence is deafening!
For those who commiserate, my heart goes out to them on the death of the Pope.
As an individual human, just perhaps.
But there’s no institution on the planet that has inflicted more war and death and misery and abuse upon humanity than the Catholic Church.
Interesting claim, but is it true? Depends what you mean by “Institution”
If we take the Communist Party worldwide as an institution I imagine the Party has done worse, certainly in total deaths, than all the Popes
Just put Stalin, Lenin, Mao and Pol Pot together and you’ve got 100 million dead maybe? Plus indescribable torment? Then all the smaller “milder” commie parties from Cuba to Vietnam to Peru to numerous hideous African examples
I will leave our Palmer to defend the communists, who I would certainly put second.
On top of which is all the child abuse, stunted lives and clerical inflicted misery of more recent centuries. Plus all the devastating consequences of that church’s preaching in Africa, in relation to AIDS in particular.
The Roman church is up there but I reckon the commies come first
If you regard “Islam” as an institution (which is highly debatable, as it has no formal hierarchy like the commies or Left Footers) then they would be a contender. From the initial Muslim conquests to Tamerlane to the Mughals - we’re talking tens of millions dead, many millions of slaves, and on and on it goes, even today (the Taliban, etc)
Certainly as “a religion” I would say Islam has been even crueler and more devastating than Christianity
I’m a believer but organized religion has an extremely depressing history
Doesn’t Islam mean Peace?
Noun from the SLM root verb. The literal meaning is 'submission'.
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
I don't normally get them but have had 2 in the last six months. Got over one then a few weeks later got another.
OK, hypothesis for the day not looking particularly robust so far.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
What are you doing at Euston?
Would we count that as being Britain’s least posh terminus, or am I being London centric there? What’s the most squalid, depressing terminus in the country?
Wick
Wick's OK. A more forlorn terminus would be Heysham. Or maybe Holyhead.
Severn Beach's not pleasant, especially as it gets a quarter of a million passengers a year. As I recall, the line leading up to it is pretty industrial (i.e. not pretty) as well.
edit: Fort William station's also a bit of a dump. Terrible, unattractive architecture.
Comments
Summary from Accuweather for both Thursday and Friday (before I fly away on Saturday) for Marlborough is "Beautiful with bright periods"
Quite a mixed forecast for the Pyrenees during my first week in France, but nothing too bad
From Sir Keir, two hours ago
https://x.com/keir_starmer/status/1914255457088164083?s=46&t=CW4pL-mMpTqsJXCdjW0Z6Q
Looking at his timeline, he posted about Easter quite a few times, and most were perfectly fine. It was just the ‘I want to thank Christians for their huge contributions to our country’ line that I disliked
"Nobody has done more for Christianity, no one has done more for religion of all types than me!"
https://x.com/PolymarketIntel/status/1914254653828571215
Given the SCons are likely to take the biggest dunt on their current numbers, how big a wound do you think they’ll be licking? Perhaps they can ask Reform to help with the saliva salving.
Needs to try much harder.
St Peter ushers them into a waiting room, saying, 'The Lord will see you in a minute, there's something else come up.'
A moment later, a beautiful young woman walks through, and St Peter immediately ushers her in, saying, 'I have particular instructions from God that you are to see him right away.'
The cardinal, offended, pipes up: 'St Peter, why would God see *that woman* before us, two faithful servants who feared him and followed him?'
St Peter looks at him. 'That young woman has just died crashing a sports car she bought a year ago. In that one year she has put the fear of God into more people than you both managed in all your lives.'
https://x.com/planetjedward/status/1914233652344414212?s=61
This is not coincidence. Autism is driven by organic food sales.
https://x.com/simonmaechling/status/1913855555891847400
Dr. Oz: The uninsured “don’t have the right to health,” but should be given “a way of crawling back out of the abyss” with “15-minute physicals” provided by the government “in a festival like setting.”
https://x.com/highbrow_nobrow/status/1913614548591853824
Obviously, RFK is the cause of autism.
https://x.com/cyclefree2/status/1914268217146474556
Maybe name it Prora as the Americans are fond of reusing European place names.
If only we had a noom correspondent who could go and check it out...
I’ve not had a classic head cold for at least 6 months, possibly longer, and very few people I know have either. Are we going through a common cold drought?
People always say when “there’s a lot of it going round at the moment” but they never comment when there’s “not a lot of it going round”.
So there was something funky doing the rounds of the West Midlands.
The blasphemy - at Easter! - is off the scale.
I mean, it would be one solution, but he's such a narcissist I'm thinking he'd do a Pooh-Bah and say there are limits to even his insatiable ambition.
Annoyingly there’s no data for colds, but I did stumble on this morbid little dashboard
https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/
This effect may gradually tail off, but my guess is that now everybody's set up for hybrid working it's much easier to say "got a bit of a cold, will WFH this week" than when almost everybody was in the office all the time and didn't have a setup to work elsewhere.
I’m currently at Britain’s poshest railway terminus. It’s a ridiculous place, as if built by a film studio for a costume drama (but with a Burger King and a Pret).
There is an entire hut, occupying what used to be the tourist info booth, decorated in olde English wallpaper and dedicated to suckering rich tourists into visiting Bicester village. And station announcements in Mandarin and Arabic.
Tories may well take a dunt but Farage is doing his level-best to dunt Reform's prospects in Scotland. Anyhow, it's more than 12 months off and, as we know, a week's a long time in politics - a year is an eternity.
Although Labour’s support has collapsed since the general election, it is the Conservatives who have most to lose next month. Not only were they riding high four years ago, but this year’s local elections take place almost entirely in traditionally true blue Tory territory.
Of the 23 councils balloting next month, all but four are currently controlled by the Conservatives. The party will be defending nearly a thousand of the 1,641 council seats at stake. Labour go into the election with fewer than 300 seats and the Liberal Democrats, with only just over 200.
Stafford and Gloucester were built by the same pathetic excuse for a human being, but at least they have glimmers of sunlight in them.
The only real rival to Euston would be New Street.
1) everybody hates the social policies and cuts to benefits.
2) eu negotiations with red lines alienates everybody. The brexiteers hate any negotiation.... rejoiners hate the red lines. Everybody is unhappy.
3) brits overwhelmingly despise Trump... don't kiss his arse and bring him here.
Labour seems to not understand politics - you can't stay in power when you anger everybody rather than please somebody. It is basic strategy. If we have a maga style take over here it will be Starmer's fault for being a horrendous politician. He must get his 2024 voters on side: support the poor and throw red meat at rejoiners, stand up against trump. That or he is finished.
Mate, these bite hard. Zero fade, even after a full blast down the Furka with a boot full of hubris and a nav unit screaming recalculations. Finish is obscene - like if the Bauhaus did CNC. You ever felt harmonic resonance through a cold-forged XJ19 end-to-end? Thought not. Triple-collared mounts, wet-bushed in moly, anodised in something they only use on satellite couplers. Full schwingenfreude at 8,000rpm, and that’s before the preload’s dialled in
Sure, the modern lads go for composite polymers - lightweight, thermally stable, blah blah. But me? NEED mass. Mine are hand-hewn from Sardinian basalt, face-balanced, interference-fit into a vintage ARX spec housing. Takes a while to warm up, sure, but once you're at temp - bro. You haven’t known true mechanical sympathy till you’ve taken a granite dildo to redline on a Tuscan long-weekender
But there’s no institution on the planet that has inflicted more war and death and misery and abuse upon humanity than the Catholic Church.
Clown: I was a serial killer but repented in prison, and went to heaven
Crusader: I killed hundreds in the name of our Lord!
Hitler: I'm just as surprised as you are.
Maybe RFK is a nutjob as a result of entitlement and previous drug addiction rather than a naturally occurring neuro-diverse condition.
( Sorry Taz I've gone off on one again. Feel free to flag)
You're welcome.
"Preemptive Cuts" in Interest Rates are being called for by many. With Energy Costs way down, food prices (including Biden's egg disaster!) substantially lower, and most other "things" trending down, there is virtually No Inflation. With these costs trending so nicely downward, just what I predicted they would do, there can almost be no inflation, but there can be a SLOWING of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW. Europe has already "lowered" seven times. Powell has always been "To Late," except when it came to the Election period when he lowered in order to help Sleepy Joe Biden, later Kamala, get elected. How did that work out?
If we take the Communist Party worldwide as an institution I imagine the Party has done worse, certainly in total deaths, than all the Popes
Just put Stalin, Lenin, Mao and Pol Pot together and you’ve got 100 million dead maybe? Plus indescribable torment? Then all the smaller “milder” commie parties from Cuba to Vietnam to Peru to numerous hideous African examples
Trouble is: that's not very often.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p03gxy98/snooker-world-championship-the-85-final-the-85-black-ball-final-final-frame
I won't give away the result
Some of the evidence for the catholics being first is here: https://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/827989/15116787/1321289366180/50+million+protestants+killed.pdf
On top of which is all the child abuse, stunted lives and clerical inflicted misery of more recent centuries. Plus all the devastating consequences of that church’s preaching in Africa, in relation to AIDS in particular.
On colds, I had my worse ever winter. Four in succession, all of which required WFH or days off. Has put my running back a few months because they got down into my lungs.
If you regard “Islam” as an institution (which is highly debatable, as it has no formal hierarchy like the commies or Left Footers) then they would be a contender. From the initial Muslim conquests to Tamerlane to the Mughals - we’re talking tens of millions dead, many millions of slaves, and on and on it goes, even today (the Taliban, etc)
Certainly as “a religion” I would say Islam has been even crueler and more devastating than Christianity
I’m a believer but organized religion has an extremely depressing history
But Wick isn’t even in the “pleasant” bit. It’s up near the Flow Country, one of the ugliest places on God’s poor old planet earth
Pope in good health meets with JD Vance.
Pope dies.
Islam is perfect. Human beings are not.
edit: Fort William station's also a bit of a dump. Terrible, unattractive architecture.