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Three months ago Pierre Poilievre’s party was leading by 27% in the polls – politicalbetting.com

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  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,768
    edited April 29
    Off-topic

    A few links around activism against anti-wheelchair and other barriers, that may interest one or two. @Eabhal , and perhaps people in Manchester - @JosiasJessop . Maybe @eek .

    This is flagging up a couple of stories that might be of interest, around antisocial behaviour on paths using motorbikes.

    These are largely around the problem that there are many 10s of thousands of barriers preventing access to Rights of Way and other paths (eg multiuser trails) for lawful users, in claimed attempts, which are illegal, to prevent motorcycle access.

    ! - A strategic campaign and possible legal action against Greater Manchester. Leigh Day are leading a campaign against anti-disabled barriers in Manchester. It is aiming also to change the climate around barriers.

    An interview with the Leigh-Day Partner concerned, Ryan Bradshaw.
    https://youtu.be/Dc-wH8nWLiw?t=456

    Report
    https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/2024-news/leigh-day-wins-award-for-championing-removal-of-barriers-on-public-pathways-across-greater-manchester/

    Map of 1400 identified barriers to disabled access in Greater Manchester.
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1RTyUs7YHgROX1gTmGzi2cXXTdzSFJQE&ll=53.505495758110804,-2.2995689277835374&z=11

    2 - A research project in Greater Manchester looking at whether "anti-motorbike ASB" barriers, which also block lawful path users such as pedestrians using wheelchairs or mobility scooter riders, and parents with double buggies, actually reduce antisocial behaviour.

    Their method is long term monitoring of a set of barriers before and after removal, for use level and interviewing local people to get an understanding of ASB.

    https://www.westminster.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/transport-and-mobilities-research-group/projects/monitoring-access-control-barrier-removal-on-traffic-free-walking-wheeling-and-cycling-routes-2024-2027

    3 - A Court finding, which where a Supreme Court Judge found that denying lawful users (cyclists in this case) access to a bridleway is not acceptable as a means to deter undesirable motorbike users.

    It is Garland vs Salaman 2021:
    https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/1098.html&query=(CO/3695/2019

    Paragraph 41 says:

    Mr Salaman's second point was that in practice motorcycles use the route, notwithstanding that they are not entitled to do so, and that they are a menace to pedestrians. I have considerable sympathy with this complaint but the motorcycles are not lawfully there and their presence raises an issue of law enforcement. It is difficult to see how denying bicycles the right to use the route would stop motorcycles, unless the argument is that if bicycles are forbidden to use the track, there is less chance that motorcycles will do so. Even if that is true, however, it cannot possibly be justified to prevent bicycles from taking advantage of what would otherwise be a lawful use of the track in order to inhibit the unlawful use by motorcycles.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,664
    Scott_xP said:

    The Mad King just cancelled a bunch of auto tariffs, after giving an interview in which he says tariffs on China will be paid by China

    Is Trump still waiting for that call from Xi - where Xi will confirm he will be paying the tariffs on China?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,367

    Scott_xP said:

    The Mad King just cancelled a bunch of auto tariffs, after giving an interview in which he says tariffs on China will be paid by China

    Is Trump still waiting for that call from Xi - where Xi will confirm he will be paying the tariffs on China?
    It's just a matter of "He says, Xi says"

  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 10,209
    MattW said:

    Off-topic

    A few links around activism against anti-wheelchair and other barriers, that may interest one or two. @Eabhal , and perhaps people in Manchester - @JosiasJessop . Maybe @eek .

    This is flagging up a couple of stories that might be of interest, around antisocial behaviour on paths using motorbikes.

    These are largely around the problem that there are many 10s of thousands of barriers preventing access to Rights of Way and other paths (eg multiuser trails) for lawful users, in claimed attempts, which are illegal, to prevent motorcycle access.

    ! - A strategic campaign and possible legal action against Greater Manchester. Leigh Day are leading a campaign against anti-disabled barriers in Manchester. It is aiming also to change the climate around barriers.

    An interview with the Leigh-Day Partner concerned, Ryan Bradshaw.
    https://youtu.be/Dc-wH8nWLiw?t=456

    Report
    https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/2024-news/leigh-day-wins-award-for-championing-removal-of-barriers-on-public-pathways-across-greater-manchester/

    Map of 1400 identified barriers to disabled access in Greater Manchester.
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1RTyUs7YHgROX1gTmGzi2cXXTdzSFJQE&ll=53.505495758110804,-2.2995689277835374&z=11

    2 - A research project in Greater Manchester looking at whether "anti-motorbike ASB" barriers, which also block lawful path users such as pedestrians using wheelchairs or mobility scooter riders, and parents with double buggies, actually reduce antisocial behaviour.

    Their method is long term monitoring of a set of barriers before and after removal, for use level and interviewing local people to get an understanding of ASB.

    https://www.westminster.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/transport-and-mobilities-research-group/projects/monitoring-access-control-barrier-removal-on-traffic-free-walking-wheeling-and-cycling-routes-2024-2027

    3 - A Court finding, which where a Supreme Court Judge found that denying lawful users (cyclists in this case) access to a bridleway is not acceptable as a means to deter undesirable motorbike users.

    It is Garland vs Salaman 2021:
    https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/1098.html&query=(CO/3695/2019

    Paragraph 41 says:

    Mr Salaman's second point was that in practice motorcycles use the route, notwithstanding that they are not entitled to do so, and that they are a menace to pedestrians. I have considerable sympathy with this complaint but the motorcycles are not lawfully there and their presence raises an issue of law enforcement. It is difficult to see how denying bicycles the right to use the route would stop motorcycles, unless the argument is that if bicycles are forbidden to use the track, there is less chance that motorcycles will do so. Even if that is true, however, it cannot possibly be justified to prevent bicycles from taking advantage of what would otherwise be a lawful use of the track in order to inhibit the unlawful use by motorcycles.

    This might all become very relevant to me as the council are about to put some measures in place to prevent cars accessing our local path network. I'll keep an eye on just how tight the bollards are.

    At the weekend I had to scale a new deer fence on the way to a reasonably popular hill. That's sent me down a MattW-type rabbit hole on access rights and responsibilities.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,913
    Foxy said:

    Scott_xP said:

    The Mad King just cancelled a bunch of auto tariffs, after giving an interview in which he says tariffs on China will be paid by China

    Is Trump still waiting for that call from Xi - where Xi will confirm he will be paying the tariffs on China?
    It's just a matter of "He says, Xi says"
    "Xi drives me crazy and I can't help myself"
  • RattersRatters Posts: 1,308
    From the silver bulletin:

    "We’re 100 days into Donald Trump’s second term, and for the first time, his net approval is worse than it was at the same point in his first term. As of this post, Trump has a net job approval rating of -9.7. But 100 days into term 1, he sat at -9.1 net approval.

    For some additional points of comparison, Joe Biden’s day 100 net approval was +13.3, Barack Obama’s was +26.4, and George W. Bush’s was +28.0. In fact, Trump 2.0 now has the lowest day 100 approval rating of any president in our historical database."

    Other than shouting at clouds, I wonder how the vain narcissist will respond?
  • MauveMauve Posts: 130
    Taz said:

    Could India attack Pakistan in the next 36 hours.

    https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/1917324291772735898?s=61

    https://x.com/vanguardintel/status/1917321774842404916?s=61

    If this kicks off we will see social disruption in part of the country.

    Let’s hope calmer heads prevail.

    Based on a sample size of 1 (my wife), the Indians I've spoken to are in the mood for vengeance. Even the Indian news reporters are more passionate than usual and seem to want a stronger response from Modi. Not sure this is going to be resolved quickly and there is definitely a risk of escalation.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,795
    Mauve said:

    Taz said:

    Could India attack Pakistan in the next 36 hours.

    https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/1917324291772735898?s=61

    https://x.com/vanguardintel/status/1917321774842404916?s=61

    If this kicks off we will see social disruption in part of the country.

    Let’s hope calmer heads prevail.

    Based on a sample size of 1 (my wife), the Indians I've spoken to are in the mood for vengeance. Even the Indian news reporters are more passionate than usual and seem to want a stronger response from Modi. Not sure this is going to be resolved quickly and there is definitely a risk of escalation.
    What's the trigger for this as even though I pay attention to the news I haven't a clue?
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,768
    edited April 29
    Eabhal said:

    MattW said:

    Off-topic

    A few links around activism against anti-wheelchair and other barriers, that may interest one or two. @Eabhal , and perhaps people in Manchester - @JosiasJessop . Maybe @eek .

    This is flagging up a couple of stories that might be of interest, around antisocial behaviour on paths using motorbikes.

    These are largely around the problem that there are many 10s of thousands of barriers preventing access to Rights of Way and other paths (eg multiuser trails) for lawful users, in claimed attempts, which are illegal, to prevent motorcycle access.

    ! - A strategic campaign and possible legal action against Greater Manchester. Leigh Day are leading a campaign against anti-disabled barriers in Manchester. It is aiming also to change the climate around barriers.

    An interview with the Leigh-Day Partner concerned, Ryan Bradshaw.
    https://youtu.be/Dc-wH8nWLiw?t=456

    Report
    https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/2024-news/leigh-day-wins-award-for-championing-removal-of-barriers-on-public-pathways-across-greater-manchester/

    Map of 1400 identified barriers to disabled access in Greater Manchester.
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1RTyUs7YHgROX1gTmGzi2cXXTdzSFJQE&ll=53.505495758110804,-2.2995689277835374&z=11

    2 - A research project in Greater Manchester looking at whether "anti-motorbike ASB" barriers, which also block lawful path users such as pedestrians using wheelchairs or mobility scooter riders, and parents with double buggies, actually reduce antisocial behaviour.

    Their method is long term monitoring of a set of barriers before and after removal, for use level and interviewing local people to get an understanding of ASB.

    https://www.westminster.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/transport-and-mobilities-research-group/projects/monitoring-access-control-barrier-removal-on-traffic-free-walking-wheeling-and-cycling-routes-2024-2027

    3 - A Court finding, which where a Supreme Court Judge found that denying lawful users (cyclists in this case) access to a bridleway is not acceptable as a means to deter undesirable motorbike users.

    It is Garland vs Salaman 2021:
    https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/1098.html&query=(CO/3695/2019

    Paragraph 41 says:

    Mr Salaman's second point was that in practice motorcycles use the route, notwithstanding that they are not entitled to do so, and that they are a menace to pedestrians. I have considerable sympathy with this complaint but the motorcycles are not lawfully there and their presence raises an issue of law enforcement. It is difficult to see how denying bicycles the right to use the route would stop motorcycles, unless the argument is that if bicycles are forbidden to use the track, there is less chance that motorcycles will do so. Even if that is true, however, it cannot possibly be justified to prevent bicycles from taking advantage of what would otherwise be a lawful use of the track in order to inhibit the unlawful use by motorcycles.

    This might all become very relevant to me as the council are about to put some measures in place to prevent cars accessing our local path network. I'll keep an eye on just how tight the bollards are.

    At the weekend I had to scale a new deer fence on the way to a reasonably popular hill. That's sent me down a MattW-type rabbit hole on access rights and responsibilities.
    Wishing you all the best.

    The door at DCAN is always open; there are real experts engaged there. They also major on pedestrians using mobility aids.

    https://wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/our-campaigns/dcan-the-disabled-cycling-activist-network/

    (A few more Scottish members would be very useful.)
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 38,277
    @Reuters

    Tariffs-related stockpiling boosts US goods trade deficit to record high

    https://x.com/Reuters/status/1917335636102520998
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,768
    Scott_xP said:
    That's a good question.

    I go L-->R Lib Dem, Labour, Tory, Reform.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,913
    eek said:

    Mauve said:

    Taz said:

    Could India attack Pakistan in the next 36 hours.

    https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/1917324291772735898?s=61

    https://x.com/vanguardintel/status/1917321774842404916?s=61

    If this kicks off we will see social disruption in part of the country.

    Let’s hope calmer heads prevail.

    Based on a sample size of 1 (my wife), the Indians I've spoken to are in the mood for vengeance. Even the Indian news reporters are more passionate than usual and seem to want a stronger response from Modi. Not sure this is going to be resolved quickly and there is definitely a risk of escalation.
    What's the trigger for this as even though I pay attention to the news I haven't a clue?
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9vyzzyjzlo

    More than 20 killed after gunmen open fire on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,768
    Mauve said:

    Taz said:

    Could India attack Pakistan in the next 36 hours.

    https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/1917324291772735898?s=61

    https://x.com/vanguardintel/status/1917321774842404916?s=61

    If this kicks off we will see social disruption in part of the country.

    Let’s hope calmer heads prevail.

    Based on a sample size of 1 (my wife), the Indians I've spoken to are in the mood for vengeance. Even the Indian news reporters are more passionate than usual and seem to want a stronger response from Modi. Not sure this is going to be resolved quickly and there is definitely a risk of escalation.
    OTOH my Indian Mum says she doesn't care if India and Pakistan duke it out with each other.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,768

    eek said:

    Mauve said:

    Taz said:

    Could India attack Pakistan in the next 36 hours.

    https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/1917324291772735898?s=61

    https://x.com/vanguardintel/status/1917321774842404916?s=61

    If this kicks off we will see social disruption in part of the country.

    Let’s hope calmer heads prevail.

    Based on a sample size of 1 (my wife), the Indians I've spoken to are in the mood for vengeance. Even the Indian news reporters are more passionate than usual and seem to want a stronger response from Modi. Not sure this is going to be resolved quickly and there is definitely a risk of escalation.
    What's the trigger for this as even though I pay attention to the news I haven't a clue?
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy9vyzzyjzlo

    More than 20 killed after gunmen open fire on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir
    Then a Strong Man response from Modi, blaming Pakistan.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 65,625
    David Frum
    @davidfrum
    ·
    3m
    How many months into the Trump Recession will Trump continue pretending that the country is enjoying an economic boom? Four? Five? More?
  • TresTres Posts: 2,822

    David Frum
    @davidfrum
    ·
    3m
    How many months into the Trump Recession will Trump continue pretending that the country is enjoying an economic boom? Four? Five? More?

    was speaking to a friend in the us today, generally not political at all but is upset as they have discovered the price of the material they use in their side gig has increased by 100% following 'liberation day'
  • eekeek Posts: 29,795
    edited April 29

    David Frum
    @davidfrum
    ·
    3m
    How many months into the Trump Recession will Trump continue pretending that the country is enjoying an economic boom? Four? Five? More?

    48 well until he loses the election in November 2028 so 45/6
  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,768
    edited April 29
    Eabhal said:

    MattW said:

    Off-topic

    A few links around activism against anti-wheelchair and other barriers, that may interest one or two. @Eabhal , and perhaps people in Manchester - @JosiasJessop . Maybe @eek .

    This is flagging up a couple of stories that might be of interest, around antisocial behaviour on paths using motorbikes.

    These are largely around the problem that there are many 10s of thousands of barriers preventing access to Rights of Way and other paths (eg multiuser trails) for lawful users, in claimed attempts, which are illegal, to prevent motorcycle access.

    ! - A strategic campaign and possible legal action against Greater Manchester. Leigh Day are leading a campaign against anti-disabled barriers in Manchester. It is aiming also to change the climate around barriers.

    An interview with the Leigh-Day Partner concerned, Ryan Bradshaw.
    https://youtu.be/Dc-wH8nWLiw?t=456

    Report
    https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/2024-news/leigh-day-wins-award-for-championing-removal-of-barriers-on-public-pathways-across-greater-manchester/

    Map of 1400 identified barriers to disabled access in Greater Manchester.
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1RTyUs7YHgROX1gTmGzi2cXXTdzSFJQE&ll=53.505495758110804,-2.2995689277835374&z=11

    2 - A research project in Greater Manchester looking at whether "anti-motorbike ASB" barriers, which also block lawful path users such as pedestrians using wheelchairs or mobility scooter riders, and parents with double buggies, actually reduce antisocial behaviour.

    Their method is long term monitoring of a set of barriers before and after removal, for use level and interviewing local people to get an understanding of ASB.

    https://www.westminster.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/transport-and-mobilities-research-group/projects/monitoring-access-control-barrier-removal-on-traffic-free-walking-wheeling-and-cycling-routes-2024-2027

    3 - A Court finding, which where a Supreme Court Judge found that denying lawful users (cyclists in this case) access to a bridleway is not acceptable as a means to deter undesirable motorbike users.

    It is Garland vs Salaman 2021:
    https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/1098.html&query=(CO/3695/2019

    Paragraph 41 says:

    Mr Salaman's second point was that in practice motorcycles use the route, notwithstanding that they are not entitled to do so, and that they are a menace to pedestrians. I have considerable sympathy with this complaint but the motorcycles are not lawfully there and their presence raises an issue of law enforcement. It is difficult to see how denying bicycles the right to use the route would stop motorcycles, unless the argument is that if bicycles are forbidden to use the track, there is less chance that motorcycles will do so. Even if that is true, however, it cannot possibly be justified to prevent bicycles from taking advantage of what would otherwise be a lawful use of the track in order to inhibit the unlawful use by motorcycles.

    This might all become very relevant to me as the council are about to put some measures in place to prevent cars accessing our local path network. I'll keep an eye on just how tight the bollards are.

    At the weekend I had to scale a new deer fence on the way to a reasonably popular hill. That's sent me down a MattW-type rabbit hole on access rights and responsibilities.
    On bollards, the standards are basically 1.5m air gap, with flat solid (I think sealed) straight approaches both sides.

    I checked this the other day - a lot of easy to remove structures tend to be installed in 1.2m gaps between fences or posts.

    So getting back to 1.2m can be cheap and done in an hour or three, whilst getting to 1.5m can require more work. Suggesting the first, with a note of "litigation risk if left as is" can be helpful to get it done soon, rather than put into a plan for 2029.

    1.2m is very tight for certain mobility aids, such as side-by-side tandems, but allow 95%+ through. That is my usual "Now" ask.

    Equality Act 2010 legislation is probably very similar in Scotland. I'm not sure about Highways Act 1980 PROW law up there. I'm also not sure about "Inclusive Mobility", which is the official guidance for me. Scotland has it's own version of LTN 1/20, as we have all discussed before.

    One guidance sheet from W4W. There are many more:

    Inclusive Cycle Infrastructure Guide: Inaccessible barriers
    https://wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/inclusive-cycle-infrastructure-guide-inaccessible-barriers/
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,685

    Mauve said:

    Taz said:

    Could India attack Pakistan in the next 36 hours.

    https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/1917324291772735898?s=61

    https://x.com/vanguardintel/status/1917321774842404916?s=61

    If this kicks off we will see social disruption in part of the country.

    Let’s hope calmer heads prevail.

    Based on a sample size of 1 (my wife), the Indians I've spoken to are in the mood for vengeance. Even the Indian news reporters are more passionate than usual and seem to want a stronger response from Modi. Not sure this is going to be resolved quickly and there is definitely a risk of escalation.
    OTOH my Indian Mum says she doesn't care if India and Pakistan duke it out with each other.
    We now have a sample size of 2. This is more than enough for HY to send the tanks in, on one side or another.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,391
    edited April 29
    MattW said:

    Scott_xP said:
    That's a good question.

    I go L-->R Lib Dem, Labour, Tory, Reform.
    I suspect the third from left is Labour. The hint is one of the words on the cloud is "Labour".
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 24,382

    MattW said:

    Scott_xP said:
    That's a good question.

    I go L-->R Lib Dem, Labour, Tory, Reform.
    I suspect the third from left is Labour. The hint is one of the words on the cloud is "Labour".
    Unfortunately the word "Labour" is *also* in the second from left cloud as well.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,391
    Foxy said:

    MattW said:

    Foxy said:

    The Trump cares so much about Fentanyl addicts that it has stopped a lifesaving antidote programme.

    https://bsky.app/profile/themckenziest.gay/post/3lnxvujof4c2p

    There was an interview with the former Medical Chief of USAID on Leading (interview feed of The Rest is Politics) yesterday, and he was pointing out that it would not be long before more deaths would have been caused by Trump's cancellation of vaccine programmes (eg international programme for measles vaccines) had caused more deaths than the Ukraine war.

    Harvard Surgeon: We Are In A Global Health Crisis (Atul Gawande)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huVdKhZLfm8

    Deep link to "estimated deaths" section
    https://youtu.be/huVdKhZLfm8?t=1447

    All of this stuff has been around for anyone following the detail, but it's good to see it reaching the more general audience.
    I pay attention to Zambian news as Mrs Foxy is from there. Read this and weep.

    https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/04/14/g-s1-59863/hiv-aids-drugs-usaid-zambia
    Trump, his financiers and his apparatchiks really are evil ****s.

    Simon Marks's 100 day analysis on LBC is withering.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 4,685

    Foxy said:

    Scott_xP said:

    The Mad King just cancelled a bunch of auto tariffs, after giving an interview in which he says tariffs on China will be paid by China

    Is Trump still waiting for that call from Xi - where Xi will confirm he will be paying the tariffs on China?
    It's just a matter of "He says, Xi says"
    "Xi drives me crazy and I can't help myself"
    ""Xi spins me right round, baby, trade-bound — like a TikTok server, moved outta town."

    (C) ChatGPT. (Charted No. 78, UK charts 1987)
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,391
    viewcode said:

    MattW said:

    Scott_xP said:
    That's a good question.

    I go L-->R Lib Dem, Labour, Tory, Reform.
    I suspect the third from left is Labour. The hint is one of the words on the cloud is "Labour".
    Unfortunately the word "Labour" is *also* in the second from left cloud as well.
    Fair enough. Second from left is without doubt the .most damning. Perhaps both second and third are both Labour. Maybe everyone has forgotten all about the Tories.
  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 4,949
    edited April 29
    Eabhal said:

    MattW said:

    Off-topic

    A few links around activism against anti-wheelchair and other barriers, that may interest one or two. @Eabhal , and perhaps people in Manchester - @JosiasJessop . Maybe @eek .

    This is flagging up a couple of stories that might be of interest, around antisocial behaviour on paths using motorbikes.

    These are largely around the problem that there are many 10s of thousands of barriers preventing access to Rights of Way and other paths (eg multiuser trails) for lawful users, in claimed attempts, which are illegal, to prevent motorcycle access.

    ! - A strategic campaign and possible legal action against Greater Manchester. Leigh Day are leading a campaign against anti-disabled barriers in Manchester. It is aiming also to change the climate around barriers.

    An interview with the Leigh-Day Partner concerned, Ryan Bradshaw.
    https://youtu.be/Dc-wH8nWLiw?t=456

    Report
    https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/2024-news/leigh-day-wins-award-for-championing-removal-of-barriers-on-public-pathways-across-greater-manchester/

    Map of 1400 identified barriers to disabled access in Greater Manchester.
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1RTyUs7YHgROX1gTmGzi2cXXTdzSFJQE&ll=53.505495758110804,-2.2995689277835374&z=11

    2 - A research project in Greater Manchester looking at whether "anti-motorbike ASB" barriers, which also block lawful path users such as pedestrians using wheelchairs or mobility scooter riders, and parents with double buggies, actually reduce antisocial behaviour.

    Their method is long term monitoring of a set of barriers before and after removal, for use level and interviewing local people to get an understanding of ASB.

    https://www.westminster.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/transport-and-mobilities-research-group/projects/monitoring-access-control-barrier-removal-on-traffic-free-walking-wheeling-and-cycling-routes-2024-2027

    3 - A Court finding, which where a Supreme Court Judge found that denying lawful users (cyclists in this case) access to a bridleway is not acceptable as a means to deter undesirable motorbike users.

    It is Garland vs Salaman 2021:
    https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/1098.html&query=(CO/3695/2019

    Paragraph 41 says:

    Mr Salaman's second point was that in practice motorcycles use the route, notwithstanding that they are not entitled to do so, and that they are a menace to pedestrians. I have considerable sympathy with this complaint but the motorcycles are not lawfully there and their presence raises an issue of law enforcement. It is difficult to see how denying bicycles the right to use the route would stop motorcycles, unless the argument is that if bicycles are forbidden to use the track, there is less chance that motorcycles will do so. Even if that is true, however, it cannot possibly be justified to prevent bicycles from taking advantage of what would otherwise be a lawful use of the track in order to inhibit the unlawful use by motorcycles.

    This might all become very relevant to me as the council are about to put some measures in place to prevent cars accessing our local path network. I'll keep an eye on just how tight the bollards are.

    At the weekend I had to scale a new deer fence on the way to a reasonably popular hill. That's sent me down a MattW-type rabbit hole on access rights and responsibilities.
    Try scaling a deer fence with a bicycle...

    Been there, done that [Ardverikie]. At least there were two of us, which reduced it to merely difficult.

    Locked deer gate on an estate track. Again, not entirely sure of rights and responsibilities. Was many km from the house.
  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 4,949

    Mauve said:

    Taz said:

    Could India attack Pakistan in the next 36 hours.

    https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/1917324291772735898?s=61

    https://x.com/vanguardintel/status/1917321774842404916?s=61

    If this kicks off we will see social disruption in part of the country.

    Let’s hope calmer heads prevail.

    Based on a sample size of 1 (my wife), the Indians I've spoken to are in the mood for vengeance. Even the Indian news reporters are more passionate than usual and seem to want a stronger response from Modi. Not sure this is going to be resolved quickly and there is definitely a risk of escalation.
    OTOH my Indian Mum says she doesn't care if India and Pakistan duke it out with each other.
    As long as they don't nuke it out with each other...
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 24,382
    edited April 29

    Mauve said:

    Taz said:

    Could India attack Pakistan in the next 36 hours.

    https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/1917324291772735898?s=61

    https://x.com/vanguardintel/status/1917321774842404916?s=61

    If this kicks off we will see social disruption in part of the country.

    Let’s hope calmer heads prevail.

    Based on a sample size of 1 (my wife), the Indians I've spoken to are in the mood for vengeance. Even the Indian news reporters are more passionate than usual and seem to want a stronger response from Modi. Not sure this is going to be resolved quickly and there is definitely a risk of escalation.
    OTOH my Indian Mum says she doesn't care if India and Pakistan duke it out with each other.
    As long as they don't nuke it out with each other...
    A trailer for a film with a prescient theme...

    https://youtu.be/W_vr6KALYrY?si=7X9grnjUZCgbM9tz
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2936978/
  • GarethoftheVale2GarethoftheVale2 Posts: 2,304
    MattW said:

    Scott_xP said:
    That's a good question.

    I go L-->R Lib Dem, Labour, Tory, Reform.
    Agreed. Labour is second as they have disappointed and progressive

    Interesting exercise:

    LD - meh. Nothing bad to say but nothing much good either
    Lab - the worst. Liars and disappointing point to a breach of trust
    Con - Nothing good to say but portrayed as a shambles rather than malicious. Quiet shows they are not cutting through
    Ref - Marmite. Racist as the largest word is bad, but they have more positive words than the others
  • StereodogStereodog Posts: 861

    Foxy said:

    viewcode said:

    Foxy said:

    FF43 said:

    I’m far from convinced (as some seem to be) that the Canadian result points to what will happen to Reform at the next GE (or beforehand).

    The Canadian situation was brought about by a very particular set of events that were immediate in the minds of voters. Canada is also much more badly hit by Trump’s trade policies and his general unhinged-ness, being next door. The Liberals also did an exceptionally well-timed switcheroo at the top.

    We have had a lot of predictions that Trump’s antics would damage Reform. As of today, their poll rating is holding up and they will take a load of council seats on Thursday, and potentially win a Westminster by election. I could be persuaded that Trump might be a brake on them expanding their position further, but we don’t have any real evidence of that yet.

    Yup. I don't assume people who self-indulgently voted for Brexit would not self-indulgently vote for the man most responsible for it.
    Farage also doesn’t need to make MAGA converts of everyone.

    He just needs enough people to feel let down by Labour and the Tories.

    Reform are a NOTA party.
    They don't have a monopoly on the NOTA vote though, do they? Lib Dems regained some of that turf in 2024 having lost it through involvement in the Coalition (making them a OOTA vote for a time). The Greens and Scots/Welsh nationalists also have NOTA appeal.

    You can argue in a sense RefUK have greater NOTA appeal - they got more votes than any of those at the last General Election, and are polling higher now. But here's the rub... all those other NOTA parties were more efficient at turning votes into seats in 2024 - the Lib Dems by MILES. That's because they have fewer perceived negatives for NOTA voters (a big negative for Farage being the MAGA connection, which is highly unpopular in the UK).
    It is a good point, and that is where FPTP and voter distribution has a big part to play.

    In essence you need a bigger “Stop Reform” vote (of which there will be a good chunk) than those minded to vote Reform.

    For that reason I’d be less bullish on their chances in much of the blue-rinse seats than a party like the LDs. Rural seats around big cities aren’t going to be great for them either, but the small towns and northern/eastern coasts are fertile ground. At the moment I subscribe to the view that no party can win a majority at the next GE. If I had to predict, I would suggest Labour minority with LD confidence and supply is the most likely.
    Big cities and their rural hinterlands aren’t Reform territory, because they’re not the places left behind by our administrators. They’re the places where our administrators live and work, so must receive the benefits they deserve.
    It is simpler than that. There are benefits to living in a major city, and benefits to living in pleasant market towns, not much to living in smaller post industrial cities, so no one wants to stay there and they go into spirals of decline.
    There are benefits to living in smaller cities, done right, you can get the best of both worlds - the advantages of city life, without too much being squeezed out and able to get about etc

    The problem is whether those smaller cities get investment or not

    If I were dictator of England I would move senior civil servants out of London and disperse them across the entire country. See how rapidly investment turned up to the smaller cities when Sir Humphrey lives and works there.
    (Narrator: the Office For National Statistics moved from London to Newport)
    Minor bits and pieces have moved, yes. However Sir Humphrey and all his senior apparatchiks aren't in Newport.

    From Man Overboard, Yes, Prime Minister.

    Move 200,000 or 300,000 service personnel up north and you create masses of civilian jobs. Clerks, suppliers, builders, vehicle maintenance. 300,000 extra pay packets spent in the shops.

    You can't move thousands of men like that.

    I thought that's what you did with armies.

    You bring 'em back! This'd be permanent.

    Guy, can any servicemen be stationed permanently in the north?

    I suppose other ranks, junior officers, but you can't ask senior officers to live permanently in the north! The wives wouldn't stand for it for one thing. Children's schools.

    I understand there are schools in the north of England.

    What about Harrods? What about Wimbledon? Ascot? Henley? The Army and Navy Club? I mean civilisation, generally! It's just not on!
    You do realise that:

    1) Yes Minister was a comedy, not a documentary

    2) it is 4 decades old, and was based on stereotypes older than that

    It's like trying to decide NHS policy by watching "Carry on Nurse".
    Yes. It is dated in its comedic scenario that Ministers make policies and civil servants come up with elaborate ruses to thwart their wishes. These days, civil servants make policy and Ministers must come up with elaborate ruses to thwart their wishes.
    In my experience of working in the Civil Service it's a bit more complicated than that. Each department has a core set of responsibilities that it needs to carry out to be compliant with various laws and statutes. Ministers will present said department with a dozen mutually exclusive goals and manifesto commitments. Senior Civil Servants will pick a few of these that conflict the least with it's core function and use them as an excuse not to do the others. The Ministers who get things done are those who are willing to tell their Civil Servants what to prioritise and accept the consequences of not doing the other stuff
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 3,283
    Some Seattle businesses are offering 30 percent discounts to Canadians. (In previous years, baseball games between the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays drew large numbers of Canadians, and there are three games coming up, beginning on May 9th.)

    For some years I have said one goal of US foreign policy should be to be nicer to Canada than they are to us. And I still think so.
  • David Frum
    @davidfrum
    ·
    3m
    How many months into the Trump Recession will Trump continue pretending that the country is enjoying an economic boom? Four? Five? More?

    I don't understand. It's quite simple - for the next four years, all good economic news is the Trump miracle, and all bad economic news is Sleepy Joe's toxic legacy.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 31,391

    Some Seattle businesses are offering 30 percent discounts to Canadians. (In previous years, baseball games between the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays drew large numbers of Canadians, and there are three games coming up, beginning on May 9th.)

    For some years I have said one goal of US foreign policy should be to be nicer to Canada than they are to us. And I still think so.



    For some years I have said one goal of US foreign policy should be to be nicer to Canada than they are to us. And I still think so.

    Is that remotely likely with the mango Mussolini keeping shop?
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,401
    "Britain’s electricity grid operator is investigating unexplained power plant failures that hit the UK’s system hours before Spain and Portugal were plunged into blackouts"

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/04/29/grid-operator-investigates-unusual-activity-spain-blackouts/
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,664


    As predicted, the cockchafers were out tonight...
  • TimSTimS Posts: 15,019

    MattW said:

    Scott_xP said:
    That's a good question.

    I go L-->R Lib Dem, Labour, Tory, Reform.
    Agreed. Labour is second as they have disappointed and progressive

    Interesting exercise:

    LD - meh. Nothing bad to say but nothing much good either
    Lab - the worst. Liars and disappointing point to a breach of trust
    Con - Nothing good to say but portrayed as a shambles rather than malicious. Quiet shows they are not cutting through
    Ref - Marmite. Racist as the largest word is bad, but they have more positive words than the others
    The Ref word cloud is dominated by bad words. There are a few good ones, like “strong”, but this suggests it’s a party a few will vote actively for, and a lot will vote actively against.

    By contrast the Tory one is closer to the Lib Dem one than Labour. It suggests irrelevance, weakness, smallness. Not a bad outcome if it means they’ll get fewer tactical votes against them. Perhaps the fear of Reform has drawn the venom away.

    The good news for the Lib Dems is that the 3 largest ones are 1. don’t know, 2. Good, 3. Not sure. For a party only looking to compete, for now, in about 100 seats, that’s not a bad outcome. All the others in the Lib Dem cloud were basically written by Taz and LuckyGuy.

    Labour’s word cloud is horrendous. You can see in there the seeds of their downfall. Disappointing and traitors to left wingers, predictably bad to right wingers. Their best chance of recovery now is either through Canada-style standing still while others shit the bed, or through some very good economic luck.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 34,401
    I haven't decided who to vote for at the local elections, so I'm open to suggestions.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 83,585
    Andy_JS said:

    I haven't decided who to vote for at the local elections, so I'm open to suggestions.

    Monster Raving Loony Party?
  • TimSTimS Posts: 15,019
    edited April 30
    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:

    - The Queen: in one of two guises, either as the demure former head of state in a grainy photo, or Sex Pistols cover art
    - The Sex Pistols, as font and design style
    - David Bowie: he’s everywhere in the decor of any self-respecting ethnic Brit establishment. He is to British iconography what Frida Kahlo is to Mexico
    - Red things found in London: phone boxes, horse guards in busbees, London buses
    - London generally: British pubs are almost all urban so they reflect a sort of urban (London) image of Britain, including in their decor. But it’s a 60s version. Carnaby St. Bowler hats. Piccadilly Circus. They are also chain-coded. The Elephant & Castle is a bit Wetherspoonsy.
    - David Beckham. He’s up there with Bowie. The Roger Federer or Bjork of national character
    - Club Football. Particularly Arsenal, for some reason
    - The Union Jack
    - Fish and chips, pies, roast, puddings, curry
    - Occasional nods to Scotland

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    They generally also ignore the existence of

    - the North: Yorkshire and Lancashire, Sean Bean, Jordies, hotpot, Vic and Bob, Threads, Cheryl Cole. An occasional glance towards Oasis maybe.
    - The West Country. Pasties, cream teas, Doom Bar, Dartmoor, Glastonbury, the Wurzels.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 45,434
    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:

    - The Queen: in one of two guises, either as the demure former head of state in a grainy photo, or Sex Pistols cover art
    - The Sex Pistols, as font and design style
    - David Bowie: he’s everywhere in the decor of any self-respecting ethnic Brit establishment. He is to British iconography what Frida Kahlo is to Mexico
    - Red things found in London: phone boxes, horse guards in busbees, London buses
    - London generally: British pubs are almost all urban so they reflect a sort of urban (London) image of Britain, including in their decor. But it’s a 60s version. Carnaby St. Bowler hats. Piccadilly Circus. They are also chain-coded. The Elephant & Castle is a bit Wetherspoonsy.
    - David Beckham. He’s up there with Bowie. The Roger Federer or Bjork of national character
    - Club Football. Particularly Arsenal, for some reason
    - The Union Jack
    - Fish and chips, pies, roast, puddings, curry
    - Occasional nods to Scotland

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    They generally also ignore the existence of

    - the North: Yorkshire and Lancashire, Sean Bean, Jordies, hotpot, Vic and Bob, Threads, Cheryl Cole. An occasional glance towards Oasis maybe.
    - The West Country. Pasties, cream teas, Doom Bar, Dartmoor, Glastonbury, the Wurzels.
    My Aussie ex's dad moved to Melbourne from London in the 1960s. He remembers London as a depressed, dirty place, covered in bomb sites, and said he hated England. Yet he supported West Ham religiously; and would support England in any sport going except if they were playing Australia. And his local pub was the most 'English' place you can imagine, trapped in the 1960s. It was frequented by fellow expats and felt a bit like going into the Blind Beggar.

    He never wanted to visit England or London again, and he never did. This was a shame as I think he would have been astounded by how it had changed.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,934

    David Frum
    @davidfrum
    ·
    3m
    How many months into the Trump Recession will Trump continue pretending that the country is enjoying an economic boom? Four? Five? More?

    It will be a while.

    Today is Fentanyl Awareness day. In President Trump’s first 100 days we’ve seized over 22 million fentanyl laced pills, saving over 119 Million lives. ..
    https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/1917311265774727323

    Huge if true.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,934
    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:
    ...

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    They generally also ignore the existence of

    - the North: Yorkshire and Lancashire, Sean Bean, Jordies, hotpot, Vic and Bob, Threads, Cheryl Cole. An occasional glance towards Oasis maybe.
    - The West Country. Pasties, cream teas, Doom Bar, Dartmoor, Glastonbury, the Wurzels.
    A Threads themed pub would be something.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 76,934

    David Frum
    @davidfrum
    ·
    3m
    How many months into the Trump Recession will Trump continue pretending that the country is enjoying an economic boom? Four? Five? More?

    The president has a precise~ish answer.

    TRUMP: Tourism is way up.

    MORAN: Not now.

    TRUMP: Tourism is doing very well. We're doing very well. Wait until you see the real numbers come out in about six months from now.

    https://x.com/Mollyploofkins/status/1917384924992065918

  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,261



    As predicted, the cockchafers were out tonight...

    Our cat bought one in earlier lol
  • FishingFishing Posts: 5,522
    edited April 30
    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:

    - The Queen: in one of two guises, either as the demure former head of state in a grainy photo, or Sex Pistols cover art
    - The Sex Pistols, as font and design style
    - David Bowie: he’s everywhere in the decor of any self-respecting ethnic Brit establishment. He is to British iconography what Frida Kahlo is to Mexico
    - Red things found in London: phone boxes, horse guards in busbees, London buses
    - London generally: British pubs are almost all urban so they reflect a sort of urban (London) image of Britain, including in their decor. But it’s a 60s version. Carnaby St. Bowler hats. Piccadilly Circus. They are also chain-coded. The Elephant & Castle is a bit Wetherspoonsy.
    - David Beckham. He’s up there with Bowie. The Roger Federer or Bjork of national character
    - Club Football. Particularly Arsenal, for some reason
    - The Union Jack
    - Fish and chips, pies, roast, puddings, curry
    - Occasional nods to Scotland

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    They generally also ignore the existence of

    - the North: Yorkshire and Lancashire, Sean Bean, Jordies, hotpot, Vic and Bob, Threads, Cheryl Cole. An occasional glance towards Oasis maybe.
    - The West Country. Pasties, cream teas, Doom Bar, Dartmoor, Glastonbury, the Wurzels.
    For some reason I can never fathom English pubs also ignore the Sex Pistols, council housing, Judas Priest, grooming gangs, Noel Edmonds, Jimmy Saville, dubstep, and the NHS.

    My local American restaurant doesn't feature Alaska, Hawaii, political correctness or street gangs much either.

    The point of these pubs is to present a saccharine, pleasant version of this country that people can enjoy so of course they're going to ignore things like the North and the Wurzels.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,367
    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:

    - The Queen: in one of two guises, either as the demure former head of state in a grainy photo, or Sex Pistols cover art
    - The Sex Pistols, as font and design style
    - David Bowie: he’s everywhere in the decor of any self-respecting ethnic Brit establishment. He is to British iconography what Frida Kahlo is to Mexico
    - Red things found in London: phone boxes, horse guards in busbees, London buses
    - London generally: British pubs are almost all urban so they reflect a sort of urban (London) image of Britain, including in their decor. But it’s a 60s version. Carnaby St. Bowler hats. Piccadilly Circus. They are also chain-coded. The Elephant & Castle is a bit Wetherspoonsy.
    - David Beckham. He’s up there with Bowie. The Roger Federer or Bjork of national character
    - Club Football. Particularly Arsenal, for some reason
    - The Union Jack
    - Fish and chips, pies, roast, puddings, curry
    - Occasional nods to Scotland

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    I went into a "British Pub" in Orlando a decade or so ago, and it was a bonkers place. The Beatles, Telephone boxes, servers in kilts (very short on the waitresses!) Fish and chips, and brass fittings. The beer and food were both good so went back another night, but a bonkers pastiche.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,664
    Nigelb said:

    David Frum
    @davidfrum
    ·
    3m
    How many months into the Trump Recession will Trump continue pretending that the country is enjoying an economic boom? Four? Five? More?

    It will be a while.

    Today is Fentanyl Awareness day. In President Trump’s first 100 days we’ve seized over 22 million fentanyl laced pills, saving over 119 Million lives. ..
    https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/1917311265774727323

    Huge if true.
    If doing some heavylifting there.

    Every tablet takes 6 lives? Even for the National Office of Statistics Plucked from the Ass, that is some impressive lying right there...
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,367
    TimS said:

    MattW said:

    Scott_xP said:
    That's a good question.

    I go L-->R Lib Dem, Labour, Tory, Reform.
    Agreed. Labour is second as they have disappointed and progressive

    Interesting exercise:

    LD - meh. Nothing bad to say but nothing much good either
    Lab - the worst. Liars and disappointing point to a breach of trust
    Con - Nothing good to say but portrayed as a shambles rather than malicious. Quiet shows they are not cutting through
    Ref - Marmite. Racist as the largest word is bad, but they have more positive words than the others
    The Ref word cloud is dominated by bad words. There are a few good ones, like “strong”, but this suggests it’s a party a few will vote actively for, and a lot will vote actively against.

    By contrast the Tory one is closer to the Lib Dem one than Labour. It suggests irrelevance, weakness, smallness. Not a bad outcome if it means they’ll get fewer tactical votes against them. Perhaps the fear of Reform has drawn the venom away.

    The good news for the Lib Dems is that the 3 largest ones are 1. don’t know, 2. Good, 3. Not sure. For a party only looking to compete, for now, in about 100 seats, that’s not a bad outcome. All the others in the Lib Dem cloud were basically written by Taz and LuckyGuy.

    Labour’s word cloud is horrendous. You can see in there the seeds of their downfall. Disappointing and traitors to left wingers, predictably bad to right wingers. Their best chance of recovery now is either through Canada-style standing still while others shit the bed, or through some very good economic luck.
    Luke Tryls thread here on Focus Groups is pretty grim too, for all parties including Reform.

    https://bsky.app/profile/luketryl.bsky.social/post/3lnwucs4gok2k

    It's pretty telling that you get similar views expressed in the USA, all the CANZUK countries, most of Europe. I bet that opinions in much of the rest of the world aren't very different either. We are in an ageing, cynical world, not helped by the toxic effect of Social Media.

    I don't think Labour can pull off what the Canadian Liberals did.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 51,169
    Foxy said:

    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:

    - The Queen: in one of two guises, either as the demure former head of state in a grainy photo, or Sex Pistols cover art
    - The Sex Pistols, as font and design style
    - David Bowie: he’s everywhere in the decor of any self-respecting ethnic Brit establishment. He is to British iconography what Frida Kahlo is to Mexico
    - Red things found in London: phone boxes, horse guards in busbees, London buses
    - London generally: British pubs are almost all urban so they reflect a sort of urban (London) image of Britain, including in their decor. But it’s a 60s version. Carnaby St. Bowler hats. Piccadilly Circus. They are also chain-coded. The Elephant & Castle is a bit Wetherspoonsy.
    - David Beckham. He’s up there with Bowie. The Roger Federer or Bjork of national character
    - Club Football. Particularly Arsenal, for some reason
    - The Union Jack
    - Fish and chips, pies, roast, puddings, curry
    - Occasional nods to Scotland

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    I went into a "British Pub" in Orlando a decade or so ago, and it was a bonkers place. The Beatles, Telephone boxes, servers in kilts (very short on the waitresses!) Fish and chips, and brass fittings. The beer and food were both good so went back another night, but a bonkers pastiche.
    Try the Cheshire Hotel in St Louis, on the same theme! In the lobby, as well as much of the above paraphernalia, there’s a giant stuffed bear - very British indeed!

  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 51,169



    As predicted, the cockchafers were out tonight...

    You wouldn’t want that in your trousers, for sure.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,367
    edited April 30
    ohnotnow said:

    Mauve said:

    Taz said:

    Could India attack Pakistan in the next 36 hours.

    https://x.com/kobeissiletter/status/1917324291772735898?s=61

    https://x.com/vanguardintel/status/1917321774842404916?s=61

    If this kicks off we will see social disruption in part of the country.

    Let’s hope calmer heads prevail.

    Based on a sample size of 1 (my wife), the Indians I've spoken to are in the mood for vengeance. Even the Indian news reporters are more passionate than usual and seem to want a stronger response from Modi. Not sure this is going to be resolved quickly and there is definitely a risk of escalation.
    OTOH my Indian Mum says she doesn't care if India and Pakistan duke it out with each other.
    We now have a sample size of 2. This is more than enough for HY to send the tanks in, on one side or another.
    I think they have plenty of their own. Better than they go back to competitive silly marching and glowering over moustaches. One of the most crazy places to visit in India is the Wagah border crossing for the flag lowering. There are an awful lot of military bases and installations on that 20 mile drive from Amritsar.



  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,367
    Nigelb said:

    David Frum
    @davidfrum
    ·
    3m
    How many months into the Trump Recession will Trump continue pretending that the country is enjoying an economic boom? Four? Five? More?

    It will be a while.

    Today is Fentanyl Awareness day. In President Trump’s first 100 days we’ve seized over 22 million fentanyl laced pills, saving over 119 Million lives. ..
    https://x.com/AGPamBondi/status/1917311265774727323

    Huge if true.
    Yet closing down the lifesaving programme to give the antidote to addicts.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 30,312

    David Frum
    @davidfrum
    ·
    3m
    How many months into the Trump Recession will Trump continue pretending that the country is enjoying an economic boom? Four? Five? More?

    I don't understand. It's quite simple - for the next four years, all good economic news is the Trump miracle, and all bad economic news is Sleepy Joe's toxic legacy.
    Crooked Joe.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,501
    FF43 said:

    Tony Blair again shows why he won three elections:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvrwyp0jx3o

    Actually Tony Blair shows how lots of money from Saudi Arabia to his institute leads to a conclusion we need more fossil fuels.
    Nah, I think that's a conspiracy theory. A fair few people are quizzing if this is possible, now, or if we're just fruitlessly beggaring ourselves.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,501
    Foxy said:

    https://x.com/britainelects/status/1917324840257593499

    Runcorn and Helsby by-election, model forecast

    LAB: 36% (-17)
    REF: 35% (+17)
    CON: 11% (-5)
    GRN: 9% (+3)
    LDEM: 7% (+2)

    via Britain Predicts, the @BNHWalker model

    That makes Labour quite good value at the current 3.55. Not for me though.
    Almost. I can't see Labour retaining many seats in current market conditions.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 62,501
    HYUFD said:

    Where do Britons on average place the parties on the left-right spectrum?

    Green: -55
    Labour: -36
    Lib Dems: -23
    Conservatives: +51
    Reform UK: +69

    Scale where -100 is very left-wing and +100 is very right-wing
    https://x.com/YouGov/status/1917157069179810201

    Britons on average place Keir Starmer to the right of the Labour Party

    Keir Starmer: -28 (+8 vs Labour)
    Ed Davey: -25 (-2 vs Lib Dems)
    Kemi Badenoch: +51 (= vs Cons)
    Nigel Farage: +73 (+4 vs Reform)

    Scale where -100 is very left-wing and +100 is very right-wing
    https://x.com/YouGov/status/1917157083155230952

    That looks exaggerated and based on "vibes", mainly.

    I don't think the Conservatives are that right-wing, or Labour left-wing.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,404

    FF43 said:

    Tony Blair again shows why he won three elections:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvrwyp0jx3o

    Actually Tony Blair shows how lots of money from Saudi Arabia to his institute leads to a conclusion we need more fossil fuels.
    Nah, I think that's a conspiracy theory. A fair few people are quizzing if this is possible, now, or if we're just fruitlessly beggaring ourselves.
    The catch with that question is that solar/wind/battery are cheaper than fossil fuels + CCS right now and have the massive advantage of already existing at scale. The price factor has changed a lot in recent years, as OGH Jr points out; and lots of people haven't noticed yet.

    The main downside is the balance of initial and ongoing costs. Gas is like an inkjet printer; cheap upfront but expensive to run (which is why it's OK to keep them as backup for a few days a year). Renewable + storage is a laser printer- more expensive upfront, but cheaper over the lifetime.

    Getting that sort of decision right is something humans find hard and British humans almost impossible. Hence the scrambling by some for other reasons not to do this.
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,420
    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:

    - The Queen: in one of two guises, either as the demure former head of state in a grainy photo, or Sex Pistols cover art
    - The Sex Pistols, as font and design style
    - David Bowie: he’s everywhere in the decor of any self-respecting ethnic Brit establishment. He is to British iconography what Frida Kahlo is to Mexico
    - Red things found in London: phone boxes, horse guards in busbees, London buses
    - London generally: British pubs are almost all urban so they reflect a sort of urban (London) image of Britain, including in their decor. But it’s a 60s version. Carnaby St. Bowler hats. Piccadilly Circus. They are also chain-coded. The Elephant & Castle is a bit Wetherspoonsy.
    - David Beckham. He’s up there with Bowie. The Roger Federer or Bjork of national character
    - Club Football. Particularly Arsenal, for some reason
    - The Union Jack
    - Fish and chips, pies, roast, puddings, curry
    - Occasional nods to Scotland

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    The Queen (QE2) is such a huge part of our iconography and identity, or was at least. I was chatting to the guy who picked me up from Heathrow at the weekend, he was an Afghan and had come to the UK as a boy or young man to escape the Taliban, and had been working as a taxi driver and running pizza restaurants. He seemed to have done well, owned his own home in Barking and spoke with an East London accent. He said his dad had told him - go to England, they have the Queen, they will treat you fairly there, you will be okay. And I guess his dad was right.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 38,558

    HYUFD said:

    Where do Britons on average place the parties on the left-right spectrum?

    Green: -55
    Labour: -36
    Lib Dems: -23
    Conservatives: +51
    Reform UK: +69

    Scale where -100 is very left-wing and +100 is very right-wing
    https://x.com/YouGov/status/1917157069179810201

    Britons on average place Keir Starmer to the right of the Labour Party

    Keir Starmer: -28 (+8 vs Labour)
    Ed Davey: -25 (-2 vs Lib Dems)
    Kemi Badenoch: +51 (= vs Cons)
    Nigel Farage: +73 (+4 vs Reform)

    Scale where -100 is very left-wing and +100 is very right-wing
    https://x.com/YouGov/status/1917157083155230952

    That looks exaggerated and based on "vibes", mainly.

    I don't think the Conservatives are that right-wing, or Labour left-wing.
    Both parties are far closer to the centre.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 38,558
    Fishing said:

    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:

    - The Queen: in one of two guises, either as the demure former head of state in a grainy photo, or Sex Pistols cover art
    - The Sex Pistols, as font and design style
    - David Bowie: he’s everywhere in the decor of any self-respecting ethnic Brit establishment. He is to British iconography what Frida Kahlo is to Mexico
    - Red things found in London: phone boxes, horse guards in busbees, London buses
    - London generally: British pubs are almost all urban so they reflect a sort of urban (London) image of Britain, including in their decor. But it’s a 60s version. Carnaby St. Bowler hats. Piccadilly Circus. They are also chain-coded. The Elephant & Castle is a bit Wetherspoonsy.
    - David Beckham. He’s up there with Bowie. The Roger Federer or Bjork of national character
    - Club Football. Particularly Arsenal, for some reason
    - The Union Jack
    - Fish and chips, pies, roast, puddings, curry
    - Occasional nods to Scotland

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    They generally also ignore the existence of

    - the North: Yorkshire and Lancashire, Sean Bean, Jordies, hotpot, Vic and Bob, Threads, Cheryl Cole. An occasional glance towards Oasis maybe.
    - The West Country. Pasties, cream teas, Doom Bar, Dartmoor, Glastonbury, the Wurzels.
    For some reason I can never fathom English pubs also ignore the Sex Pistols, council housing, Judas Priest, grooming gangs, Noel Edmonds, Jimmy Saville, dubstep, and the NHS.

    My local American restaurant doesn't feature Alaska, Hawaii, political correctness or street gangs much either.

    The point of these pubs is to present a saccharine, pleasant version of this country that people can enjoy so of course they're going to ignore things like the North and the Wurzels.
    I admit, the thought of a Jimmy Savile-themed pub amuses me.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 51,367
    Sean_F said:

    Fishing said:

    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:

    - The Queen: in one of two guises, either as the demure former head of state in a grainy photo, or Sex Pistols cover art
    - The Sex Pistols, as font and design style
    - David Bowie: he’s everywhere in the decor of any self-respecting ethnic Brit establishment. He is to British iconography what Frida Kahlo is to Mexico
    - Red things found in London: phone boxes, horse guards in busbees, London buses
    - London generally: British pubs are almost all urban so they reflect a sort of urban (London) image of Britain, including in their decor. But it’s a 60s version. Carnaby St. Bowler hats. Piccadilly Circus. They are also chain-coded. The Elephant & Castle is a bit Wetherspoonsy.
    - David Beckham. He’s up there with Bowie. The Roger Federer or Bjork of national character
    - Club Football. Particularly Arsenal, for some reason
    - The Union Jack
    - Fish and chips, pies, roast, puddings, curry
    - Occasional nods to Scotland

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    They generally also ignore the existence of

    - the North: Yorkshire and Lancashire, Sean Bean, Jordies, hotpot, Vic and Bob, Threads, Cheryl Cole. An occasional glance towards Oasis maybe.
    - The West Country. Pasties, cream teas, Doom Bar, Dartmoor, Glastonbury, the Wurzels.
    For some reason I can never fathom English pubs also ignore the Sex Pistols, council housing, Judas Priest, grooming gangs, Noel Edmonds, Jimmy Saville, dubstep, and the NHS.

    My local American restaurant doesn't feature Alaska, Hawaii, political correctness or street gangs much either.

    The point of these pubs is to present a saccharine, pleasant version of this country that people can enjoy so of course they're going to ignore things like the North and the Wurzels.
    I admit, the thought of a Jimmy Savile-themed pub amuses me.
    Apart from the obvious issue, Saville was Teetotal.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,913

    FF43 said:

    Tony Blair again shows why he won three elections:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvrwyp0jx3o

    Actually Tony Blair shows how lots of money from Saudi Arabia to his institute leads to a conclusion we need more fossil fuels.
    Nah, I think that's a conspiracy theory. A fair few people are quizzing if this is possible, now, or if we're just fruitlessly beggaring ourselves.
    The catch with that question is that solar/wind/battery are cheaper than fossil fuels + CCS right now and have the massive advantage of already existing at scale. The price factor has changed a lot in recent years, as OGH Jr points out; and lots of people haven't noticed yet.

    The main downside is the balance of initial and ongoing costs. Gas is like an inkjet printer; cheap upfront but expensive to run (which is why it's OK to keep them as backup for a few days a year). Renewable + storage is a laser printer- more expensive upfront, but cheaper over the lifetime.

    Getting that sort of decision right is something humans find hard and British humans almost impossible. Hence the scrambling by some for other reasons not to do this.
    Sorry but that is simply not true. The strike price of gas is artificially elevated by being on constant stop start due to the intermittency of shite renewables of the type you describe. You don't do your side any favours when you speciously omit key facts because the don't support 'the transition'.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,913
    Sean_F said:

    Fishing said:

    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:

    - The Queen: in one of two guises, either as the demure former head of state in a grainy photo, or Sex Pistols cover art
    - The Sex Pistols, as font and design style
    - David Bowie: he’s everywhere in the decor of any self-respecting ethnic Brit establishment. He is to British iconography what Frida Kahlo is to Mexico
    - Red things found in London: phone boxes, horse guards in busbees, London buses
    - London generally: British pubs are almost all urban so they reflect a sort of urban (London) image of Britain, including in their decor. But it’s a 60s version. Carnaby St. Bowler hats. Piccadilly Circus. They are also chain-coded. The Elephant & Castle is a bit Wetherspoonsy.
    - David Beckham. He’s up there with Bowie. The Roger Federer or Bjork of national character
    - Club Football. Particularly Arsenal, for some reason
    - The Union Jack
    - Fish and chips, pies, roast, puddings, curry
    - Occasional nods to Scotland

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    They generally also ignore the existence of

    - the North: Yorkshire and Lancashire, Sean Bean, Jordies, hotpot, Vic and Bob, Threads, Cheryl Cole. An occasional glance towards Oasis maybe.
    - The West Country. Pasties, cream teas, Doom Bar, Dartmoor, Glastonbury, the Wurzels.
    For some reason I can never fathom English pubs also ignore the Sex Pistols, council housing, Judas Priest, grooming gangs, Noel Edmonds, Jimmy Saville, dubstep, and the NHS.

    My local American restaurant doesn't feature Alaska, Hawaii, political correctness or street gangs much either.

    The point of these pubs is to present a saccharine, pleasant version of this country that people can enjoy so of course they're going to ignore things like the North and the Wurzels.
    I admit, the thought of a Jimmy Savile-themed pub amuses me.
    Do you have to write a letter to get your preferred drink?
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 18,404

    FF43 said:

    Tony Blair again shows why he won three elections:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvrwyp0jx3o

    Actually Tony Blair shows how lots of money from Saudi Arabia to his institute leads to a conclusion we need more fossil fuels.
    Nah, I think that's a conspiracy theory. A fair few people are quizzing if this is possible, now, or if we're just fruitlessly beggaring ourselves.
    The catch with that question is that solar/wind/battery are cheaper than fossil fuels + CCS right now and have the massive advantage of already existing at scale. The price factor has changed a lot in recent years, as OGH Jr points out; and lots of people haven't noticed yet.

    The main downside is the balance of initial and ongoing costs. Gas is like an inkjet printer; cheap upfront but expensive to run (which is why it's OK to keep them as backup for a few days a year). Renewable + storage is a laser printer- more expensive upfront, but cheaper over the lifetime.

    Getting that sort of decision right is something humans find hard and British humans almost impossible. Hence the scrambling by some for other reasons not to do this.
    Sorry but that is simply not true. The strike price of gas is artificially elevated by being on constant stop start due to the intermittency of shite renewables of the type you describe. You don't do your side any favours when you speciously omit key facts because the don't support 'the transition'.
    Take it up with the House of Lords library;

    Contracts for difference are a way in which the government incentivises investment in renewable energy by providing developers of projects with high upfront costs and long lifetimes with protection from volatile wholesale prices.

    https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/renewable-energy-costs/

    Two of the big global economic dislocations of my lifetime- the early 1970s and right now- have been caused by the cost of fossil fuels spiking for political reasons out of our control.
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,356

    FF43 said:

    Tony Blair again shows why he won three elections:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvrwyp0jx3o

    Actually Tony Blair shows how lots of money from Saudi Arabia to his institute leads to a conclusion we need more fossil fuels.
    Nah, I think that's a conspiracy theory. A fair few people are quizzing if this is possible, now, or if we're just fruitlessly beggaring ourselves.
    The catch with that question is that solar/wind/battery are cheaper than fossil fuels + CCS right now and have the massive advantage of already existing at scale. The price factor has changed a lot in recent years, as OGH Jr points out; and lots of people haven't noticed yet.

    The main downside is the balance of initial and ongoing costs. Gas is like an inkjet printer; cheap upfront but expensive to run (which is why it's OK to keep them as backup for a few days a year). Renewable + storage is a laser printer- more expensive upfront, but cheaper over the lifetime.

    Getting that sort of decision right is something humans find hard and British humans almost impossible. Hence the scrambling by some for other reasons not to do this.
    Sorry but that is simply not true. The strike price of gas is artificially elevated by being on constant stop start due to the intermittency of shite renewables of the type you describe. You don't do your side any favours when you speciously omit key facts because the don't support 'the transition'.
    Are you saying if we used more gas the gas would be cheaper?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,664
    Sean_F said:

    Fishing said:

    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    I realise it’s the early hours in Britain so I get to comment with no comeback.

    I decided to have dinner this evening in a “British pub” called the Elephant and Castle. It’s the first time I’ve tried one of these. British pubs used to be very rare abroad outside certain Med resorts - it was a category dominated by the Irish - but they’ve been burgeoning in the US and elsewhere since the advent of craft beer and microbreweries.

    It’s always interesting to see what other cultures think of ours when we’re an ethnic minority. When we are, to coin a Leon term, interesting diversity.

    The answer:

    - The Queen: in one of two guises, either as the demure former head of state in a grainy photo, or Sex Pistols cover art
    - The Sex Pistols, as font and design style
    - David Bowie: he’s everywhere in the decor of any self-respecting ethnic Brit establishment. He is to British iconography what Frida Kahlo is to Mexico
    - Red things found in London: phone boxes, horse guards in busbees, London buses
    - London generally: British pubs are almost all urban so they reflect a sort of urban (London) image of Britain, including in their decor. But it’s a 60s version. Carnaby St. Bowler hats. Piccadilly Circus. They are also chain-coded. The Elephant & Castle is a bit Wetherspoonsy.
    - David Beckham. He’s up there with Bowie. The Roger Federer or Bjork of national character
    - Club Football. Particularly Arsenal, for some reason
    - The Union Jack
    - Fish and chips, pies, roast, puddings, curry
    - Occasional nods to Scotland

    What are they missing?

    - Cricket. Nowhere to be seen
    - English or Welsh wine. An entire wine list of American and Italian products. The shame
    - Country pubs: beer gardens, hops on the ceiling, low beams, horseshoes, fox hunting scenes, log fires. None of that.
    - England flags.
    - King Charles. They’ve not yet caught up
    - Game: pheasant, grouse, partridge, bread sauce.
    - Any suggestion that Wales exists as a place, concept or even a word
    - Beer that tastes like beer you get in an actual pub

    They generally also ignore the existence of

    - the North: Yorkshire and Lancashire, Sean Bean, Jordies, hotpot, Vic and Bob, Threads, Cheryl Cole. An occasional glance towards Oasis maybe.
    - The West Country. Pasties, cream teas, Doom Bar, Dartmoor, Glastonbury, the Wurzels.
    For some reason I can never fathom English pubs also ignore the Sex Pistols, council housing, Judas Priest, grooming gangs, Noel Edmonds, Jimmy Saville, dubstep, and the NHS.

    My local American restaurant doesn't feature Alaska, Hawaii, political correctness or street gangs much either.

    The point of these pubs is to present a saccharine, pleasant version of this country that people can enjoy so of course they're going to ignore things like the North and the Wurzels.
    I admit, the thought of a Jimmy Savile-themed pub amuses me.
    Keeping the drinks cold in a morgue?
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 54,302
    kamski said:

    FF43 said:

    Tony Blair again shows why he won three elections:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvrwyp0jx3o

    Actually Tony Blair shows how lots of money from Saudi Arabia to his institute leads to a conclusion we need more fossil fuels.
    Nah, I think that's a conspiracy theory. A fair few people are quizzing if this is possible, now, or if we're just fruitlessly beggaring ourselves.
    The catch with that question is that solar/wind/battery are cheaper than fossil fuels + CCS right now and have the massive advantage of already existing at scale. The price factor has changed a lot in recent years, as OGH Jr points out; and lots of people haven't noticed yet.

    The main downside is the balance of initial and ongoing costs. Gas is like an inkjet printer; cheap upfront but expensive to run (which is why it's OK to keep them as backup for a few days a year). Renewable + storage is a laser printer- more expensive upfront, but cheaper over the lifetime.

    Getting that sort of decision right is something humans find hard and British humans almost impossible. Hence the scrambling by some for other reasons not to do this.
    Sorry but that is simply not true. The strike price of gas is artificially elevated by being on constant stop start due to the intermittency of shite renewables of the type you describe. You don't do your side any favours when you speciously omit key facts because the don't support 'the transition'.
    Are you saying if we used more gas the gas would be cheaper?
    Usually he goes on to say that we should be using coal from British coal mines.

    Which went out of business because British coal was bloody expensive - thin seams at depth.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,736

    NEW THREAD

  • MattWMattW Posts: 26,768

    Eabhal said:

    MattW said:

    Off-topic

    A few links around activism against anti-wheelchair and other barriers, that may interest one or two. @Eabhal , and perhaps people in Manchester - @JosiasJessop . Maybe @eek .

    This is flagging up a couple of stories that might be of interest, around antisocial behaviour on paths using motorbikes.

    These are largely around the problem that there are many 10s of thousands of barriers preventing access to Rights of Way and other paths (eg multiuser trails) for lawful users, in claimed attempts, which are illegal, to prevent motorcycle access.

    ! - A strategic campaign and possible legal action against Greater Manchester. Leigh Day are leading a campaign against anti-disabled barriers in Manchester. It is aiming also to change the climate around barriers.

    An interview with the Leigh-Day Partner concerned, Ryan Bradshaw.
    https://youtu.be/Dc-wH8nWLiw?t=456

    Report
    https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/2024-news/leigh-day-wins-award-for-championing-removal-of-barriers-on-public-pathways-across-greater-manchester/

    Map of 1400 identified barriers to disabled access in Greater Manchester.
    https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1RTyUs7YHgROX1gTmGzi2cXXTdzSFJQE&ll=53.505495758110804,-2.2995689277835374&z=11

    2 - A research project in Greater Manchester looking at whether "anti-motorbike ASB" barriers, which also block lawful path users such as pedestrians using wheelchairs or mobility scooter riders, and parents with double buggies, actually reduce antisocial behaviour.

    Their method is long term monitoring of a set of barriers before and after removal, for use level and interviewing local people to get an understanding of ASB.

    https://www.westminster.ac.uk/research/groups-and-centres/transport-and-mobilities-research-group/projects/monitoring-access-control-barrier-removal-on-traffic-free-walking-wheeling-and-cycling-routes-2024-2027

    3 - A Court finding, which where a Supreme Court Judge found that denying lawful users (cyclists in this case) access to a bridleway is not acceptable as a means to deter undesirable motorbike users.

    It is Garland vs Salaman 2021:
    https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/1098.html&query=(CO/3695/2019

    Paragraph 41 says:

    Mr Salaman's second point was that in practice motorcycles use the route, notwithstanding that they are not entitled to do so, and that they are a menace to pedestrians. I have considerable sympathy with this complaint but the motorcycles are not lawfully there and their presence raises an issue of law enforcement. It is difficult to see how denying bicycles the right to use the route would stop motorcycles, unless the argument is that if bicycles are forbidden to use the track, there is less chance that motorcycles will do so. Even if that is true, however, it cannot possibly be justified to prevent bicycles from taking advantage of what would otherwise be a lawful use of the track in order to inhibit the unlawful use by motorcycles.

    This might all become very relevant to me as the council are about to put some measures in place to prevent cars accessing our local path network. I'll keep an eye on just how tight the bollards are.

    At the weekend I had to scale a new deer fence on the way to a reasonably popular hill. That's sent me down a MattW-type rabbit hole on access rights and responsibilities.
    Try scaling a deer fence with a bicycle...

    Been there, done that [Ardverikie]. At least there were two of us, which reduced it to merely difficult.

    Locked deer gate on an estate track. Again, not entirely sure of rights and responsibilities. Was many km from the house.
    EASY ! EASY !

    (But this is a bit lower than a 2m deer fence.)

    https://youtu.be/xQ_IQS3VKjA?t=362
  • mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,772
    Sean_F said:

    HYUFD said:

    Where do Britons on average place the parties on the left-right spectrum?

    Green: -55
    Labour: -36
    Lib Dems: -23
    Conservatives: +51
    Reform UK: +69

    Scale where -100 is very left-wing and +100 is very right-wing
    https://x.com/YouGov/status/1917157069179810201

    Britons on average place Keir Starmer to the right of the Labour Party

    Keir Starmer: -28 (+8 vs Labour)
    Ed Davey: -25 (-2 vs Lib Dems)
    Kemi Badenoch: +51 (= vs Cons)
    Nigel Farage: +73 (+4 vs Reform)

    Scale where -100 is very left-wing and +100 is very right-wing
    https://x.com/YouGov/status/1917157083155230952

    That looks exaggerated and based on "vibes", mainly.

    I don't think the Conservatives are that right-wing, or Labour left-wing.
    Both parties are far closer to the centre.
    What does poor Keir Starmer have to do to prove that Labour's wandered off somewhere to the right of Cameron's Tories?
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 44,128

    malcolmg said:

    Leon said:

    London feels pleasantly buzzy in the spring warmth but I’m afraid the endless litter and graffiti is a significant culture shock after the immaculate cities of Central Asia. And I’m not talking Singapore - I’m talking Tashkent, Almaty and Bishkek. Big cities in poor countries

    I was in Germany for a week recently and never saw one bit of litter anywhere, all buildings looked pristine , all roadsides etc perfectly clean and just the opposite of this country where people have no pride or respect for anything and just dump their crap anywhere. A shithole of a country riddled with low lifes.
    Trouble is 95% of people don’t throw rubbish out of cars, but 5% are absolute wankers who don’t care.
    Depressingly I think it must be more than 5% nowadays but as you say a minority even if an ever growing one.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,768
    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Leon said:

    London feels pleasantly buzzy in the spring warmth but I’m afraid the endless litter and graffiti is a significant culture shock after the immaculate cities of Central Asia. And I’m not talking Singapore - I’m talking Tashkent, Almaty and Bishkek. Big cities in poor countries

    I was in Germany for a week recently and never saw one bit of litter anywhere, all buildings looked pristine , all roadsides etc perfectly clean and just the opposite of this country where people have no pride or respect for anything and just dump their crap anywhere. A shithole of a country riddled with low lifes.
    Trouble is 95% of people don’t throw rubbish out of cars, but 5% are absolute wankers who don’t care.
    Depressingly I think it must be more than 5% nowadays but as you say a minority even if an ever growing one.
    You're missing two commas, one between "Depressingly" and "I", and the second between "nowadays" and "but".
  • kamskikamski Posts: 6,356

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Leon said:

    London feels pleasantly buzzy in the spring warmth but I’m afraid the endless litter and graffiti is a significant culture shock after the immaculate cities of Central Asia. And I’m not talking Singapore - I’m talking Tashkent, Almaty and Bishkek. Big cities in poor countries

    I was in Germany for a week recently and never saw one bit of litter anywhere, all buildings looked pristine , all roadsides etc perfectly clean and just the opposite of this country where people have no pride or respect for anything and just dump their crap anywhere. A shithole of a country riddled with low lifes.
    Trouble is 95% of people don’t throw rubbish out of cars, but 5% are absolute wankers who don’t care.
    Depressingly I think it must be more than 5% nowadays but as you say a minority even if an ever growing one.
    You're missing two commas, one between "Depressingly" and "I", and the second between "nowadays" and "but".
    Malc is a poet and has a Poetic Licence.
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