If Labour wants to win in 2029 they need the UK to become a nation of frozen margarita drinkers
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He was a coward who ran away from the consequences of his own actions. If he never intended to stick around after the vote went against him then he should not have said he would.Mexicanpete said:
Telling a white lie to Carswell doesn't count. Cameron was "done over" by Cabinet traitors like Gove and Johnson. Who can blame him for jumping ship?isam said:
Smallish fib when giving a one word answer to Douglas Carswell in the HofC as to whether he’d stay on as PM if Leave wonMexicanpete said:
I don't believe anyone has ever accused Cameron of lying. Just incompetence over the Brexit vote.williamglenn said:
Says the person who supported David “tens of thousands” Cameron.Scott_xP said:
It works fine here. Just ask BoZoalgarkirk said:
Interesting that this works fine in USA but doesn't seem to here.Andy_JS said:"(((Dan Hodges)))
@DPJHodges
Again. What does the government think it gains from making a series of increasingly ridiculous - and easily
disprovable - lies."
https://x.com/DPJHodges/status/1933488867576815899
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If you were to follow my posts, I have consistently said I am ambivalent to Kemi and that next years Senedd election may see her resign or be replacedSonofContrarian said:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/06/13/kemi-badenoch-happy-tory-defectors-chose-reform/#comment
Big G will soon be on his own with a leader like this..😏 Reminds me of Russell T Davies and Ncuti Gatwa telling the audience who disapproves not to watch their "output"..💩0 -
Reason not to believe Israel-Iran is going to bring about Armageddon: they don’t share a border. So any warfare will be remote. That’s where Russia-Ukraine, Russia-Georgia, China-Taiwan (if it happens), Armenia-Azerbaijan, and for that matter Israel-Hezbollah are so much nastier.1
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Last night Senate GOP laid out plan to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda with $150B+ in a Judiciary bill and homeland text from Lindsey Graham that’s designed to supplant the actual (lower $) Homeland committee text Rand Paul released last night
https://x.com/ellengilmer/status/1933507732578959420
That's over five times the annual budget for the FBI, Homeland Security and Federal Prisons put together.
Recipe for a police state.
The Customs and Border Force budget is less than $20bn.
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By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.0 -
And a deal that didn’t place a border down the Irish Sea!BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.
What’s that? It *did*!?2 -
MaxPB said:
There was a general uprising and boots on the ground in both of those cases. Even the most coordinated bombing campaign is no match for 100,000 troops/rebels camped outside government buildings being protected by a NATO enforced no-fly zone or forcing the ayatollah to go on the run etc...BartholomewRoberts said:
GaddafiLostPassword said:
When has that ever happened before?BartholomewRoberts said:
If the population can be inspired to rise up, that could be enough.LostPassword said:
Regime change, unless you - or some other army - is prepared to occupy the enemy country, is a complete red herring. Good though the end of the Iranian regime would be, I find it odd that it is dominating the discourse so much, since there is no army willing and able to occupy Iran.BartholomewRoberts said:Netanyahu calling for regime change in Iran. Good!
During the address, he said that Israel's fight is not with the Iranian people, but against Iran's leadership.
He listed Iranian targets that have been hit by Israel, including military and nuclear sites, and adds: "More is on the way. The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker.
"This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard," he tells the Iranian people.
He reiterates that Israel's objective is to thwart what he describes as Iran's nuclear and missile "threat".
"As we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom," he says, adding: "The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime.
It hasn't. It's a complete red herring. It's not going to happen.
The nearest example would be the uprising against Saddam in the 1990-91 Gulf War - but in that conflict a large portion of the Iraqi army was engaged and and destroyed in a ground war, which resulted in the defeat of the Iraqi army and its ejection from occupied Kuwait.
Where is Israel going to fight Iranian army forces on the ground to produce a similar level of defeat?
The possibility of regime change is not a justification for Israel's attack (though it may be justifiable on other grounds). It's a red herring. It's irrelevant to the matter at hand.
Milosevic
Regime change is nonsensical. Israel are doing themselves and the world a favour by decimating Iran's nuclear strike capability but it's not regime change and will never get close to regime change without inspiring a general rebellion or uprising by Iranian people and support from the CIA etc... to topple the Iranian government.
Milosevic there were boots on the ground in Kosovo but that just led to the independence of Kosovo. The popular uprising that led to his fall came the year after the bombing, when his regime was vulnerable to an uprising after he'd been weakened.MaxPB said:
There was a general uprising and boots on the ground in both of those cases. Even the most coordinated bombing campaign is no match for 100,000 troops/rebels camped outside government buildings being protected by a NATO enforced no-fly zone or forcing the ayatollah to go on the run etc...BartholomewRoberts said:
GaddafiLostPassword said:
When has that ever happened before?BartholomewRoberts said:
If the population can be inspired to rise up, that could be enough.LostPassword said:
Regime change, unless you - or some other army - is prepared to occupy the enemy country, is a complete red herring. Good though the end of the Iranian regime would be, I find it odd that it is dominating the discourse so much, since there is no army willing and able to occupy Iran.BartholomewRoberts said:Netanyahu calling for regime change in Iran. Good!
During the address, he said that Israel's fight is not with the Iranian people, but against Iran's leadership.
He listed Iranian targets that have been hit by Israel, including military and nuclear sites, and adds: "More is on the way. The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker.
"This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard," he tells the Iranian people.
He reiterates that Israel's objective is to thwart what he describes as Iran's nuclear and missile "threat".
"As we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom," he says, adding: "The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime.
It hasn't. It's a complete red herring. It's not going to happen.
The nearest example would be the uprising against Saddam in the 1990-91 Gulf War - but in that conflict a large portion of the Iraqi army was engaged and and destroyed in a ground war, which resulted in the defeat of the Iraqi army and its ejection from occupied Kuwait.
Where is Israel going to fight Iranian army forces on the ground to produce a similar level of defeat?
The possibility of regime change is not a justification for Israel's attack (though it may be justifiable on other grounds). It's a red herring. It's irrelevant to the matter at hand.
Milosevic
Regime change is nonsensical. Israel are doing themselves and the world a favour by decimating Iran's nuclear strike capability but it's not regime change and will never get close to regime change without inspiring a general rebellion or uprising by Iranian people and support from the CIA etc... to topple the Iranian government.
Also don't forget how impressive Israel has become in the last couple of years of getting the leadership of their enemies. In a way that really has no precedence. They have shattered the leadership of both Hamas and Hezbollah, and in one night they've already taken out the head of the IRGC, the Chief of Staff and other top brass.
If a bombing campaign doesn't just weaken Iran, but sees leadership wiped out and a power vacuum open up, then it is entirely plausible to envisage an opening for regime change. Especially given how hated the regime is by many suffering under it.0 -
Big deal.bondegezou said:
And a deal that didn’t place a border down the Irish Sea!BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.
What’s that? It *did*!?
Don't let the NI tail wag the English dog.
Having a bit of paperwork affecting NI is far superior to England being in the backstop.1 -
Or Anthony Edenbondegezou said:
Have you people not heard of Lloyd George? Or Profumo?Pagan2 said:
Well I think outright fibbing surely started in the blair era with the dodgy dossier, the red rag stuff etcisam said:
Smallish fib when giving a one word answer to Douglas Carswell in the HofC as to whether he’d stay on as PM if Leave wonMexicanpete said:
I don't believe anyone has ever accused Cameron of lying. Just incompetence over the Brexit vote.williamglenn said:
Says the person who supported David “tens of thousands” Cameron.Scott_xP said:
It works fine here. Just ask BoZoalgarkirk said:
Interesting that this works fine in USA but doesn't seem to here.Andy_JS said:"(((Dan Hodges)))
@DPJHodges
Again. What does the government think it gains from making a series of increasingly ridiculous - and easily
disprovable - lies."
https://x.com/DPJHodges/status/19334888675768158990 -
"A week too late? 🥴BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.
When is the penny going to drop no lockdowns were remotely effective in stopping transmission (in fact highly damaging in many economic and social ways) .and this has been been admitted by the scientists..💩1 -
Penny gets a damehood3
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For sword carrying?Big_G_NorthWales said:Penny gets a damehood
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Why?Big_G_NorthWales said:Penny gets a damehood
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She upheld the Big Bang Theory as sole female for years before Amy and Bernadette arrived.viewcode said:
Why?Big_G_NorthWales said:Penny gets a damehood
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Leader of the House of Commons apparently [and carrying a sword no doubt]viewcode said:
Why?Big_G_NorthWales said:Penny gets a damehood
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I thought I was the only one who thunk that!BartholomewRoberts said:
She upheld the Big Bang Theory as sole female for years before Amy and Bernadette arrived.viewcode said:
Why?Big_G_NorthWales said:Penny gets a damehood
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Yep. Breaking up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to suit England was the obvious play for the Conservative and Unionist Party.BartholomewRoberts said:
Big deal.bondegezou said:
And a deal that didn’t place a border down the Irish Sea!BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.
What’s that? It *did*!?
Don't let the NI tail wag the English dog.
Having a bit of paperwork affecting NI is far superior to England being in the backstop.0 -
Let's not relitigate Johnson over Brexit, oh alright I will. Johnson changed sides solely to become Prime Minister, Brexit has been disastrous, although ironically due to Trump insanity we have seen a couple of Brexit bonuses in the last month or two. None of which compensate for the folly of the project and Johnson's chaotic deal.BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.1 -
I must have missed the break up, when did that occur? Last I checked we're still de jure one country even if de facto devolved nations have different rules to each other.RochdalePioneers said:
Yep. Breaking up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to suit England was the obvious play for the Conservative and Unionist Party.BartholomewRoberts said:
Big deal.bondegezou said:
And a deal that didn’t place a border down the Irish Sea!BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.
What’s that? It *did*!?
Don't let the NI tail wag the English dog.
Having a bit of paperwork affecting NI is far superior to England being in the backstop.
Suiting England is absolutely a far superior play to subjugating it under an undemocratic backstop.1 -
But it would be a MAGA police state. So, surely, that's ok? No way it could wrong?Nigelb said:Last night Senate GOP laid out plan to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda with $150B+ in a Judiciary bill and homeland text from Lindsey Graham that’s designed to supplant the actual (lower $) Homeland committee text Rand Paul released last night
https://x.com/ellengilmer/status/1933507732578959420
That's over five times the annual budget for the FBI, Homeland Security and Federal Prisons put together.
Recipe for a police state.
The Customs and Border Force budget is less than $20bn.0 -
So true: just look at Australia and New Zealand. They were completely unable to eliminate COVID via lockdowns.SonofContrarian said:
"A week too late? 🥴BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.
When is the penny going to drop no lockdowns were remotely effective in stopping transmission (in fact highly damaging in many economic and social ways) .and this has been been admitted by the scientists..💩
Oh.4 -
Phil Stewart
@phildstewart
·
12s
Marines deployed to Los Angeles temporarily detained a civilian on Friday, the U.S. military confirmed after being presented with Reuters images, in the first known detention by active-duty troops deployed there by President Donald Trump. w/
@idreesali114
and Omar Younis
https://x.com/phildstewart/status/19336507092217081720 -
The clue was that you needed to apply for a customs license and then submit export paperwork to send products from Birmingham to Ballymena.BartholomewRoberts said:
I must have missed the break up, when did that occur? Last I checked we're still de jure one country even if de facto devolved nations have different rules to each other.RochdalePioneers said:
Yep. Breaking up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to suit England was the obvious play for the Conservative and Unionist Party.BartholomewRoberts said:
Big deal.bondegezou said:
And a deal that didn’t place a border down the Irish Sea!BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.
What’s that? It *did*!?
Don't let the NI tail wag the English dog.
Having a bit of paperwork affecting NI is far superior to England being in the backstop.
Suiting England is absolutely a far superior play to subjugating it under an undemocratic backstop.
One country is being able to move about without restrictions. Needing a licence? Naah0 -
It reminds me of a page telling me I need to sign up to read it. Which I don't associate with Big G, unless I've been missing a lot of posts.SonofContrarian said:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/06/13/kemi-badenoch-happy-tory-defectors-chose-reform/#comment
Big G will soon be on his own with a leader like this..😏 Reminds me of Russell T Davies and Ncuti Gatwa telling the audience who disapproves not to watch their "output"..💩0 -
Meanwhile, life goes on in America:
Collin Rugg
@CollinRugg
NEW: Texas Judge Raquel West shreds a man in felony court after he showed up wearing a shirt that read "World's Best Farter."
"What made you think that was a good shirt to wear to court this morning?"
"That's great... You're in felony court, you need to dress appropriately to felony court."
https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/19336261242042207701 -
John Swinney: "The actions of Israel are completely beyond any justification".
https://x.com/ScotGovFM/status/19334598883629097051 -
That's a euphemism in the making.Big_G_NorthWales said:Penny gets a damehood
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The assessment seems to be that after two rounds of Israeli strikes against Iran is they have really done damage on three fronts, the nuclear programme, the ability to launch long range missiles, the military command structure.
Iran's return fire to Israel? So far, not much impact.1 -
Seems like the justification is to prevent Iran getting nuclear weapons, reasonable given Iran’s statements about Israel.Andy_JS said:John Swinney: "The actions of Israel are completely beyond any justification".
https://x.com/ScotGovFM/status/19334598883629097055 -
Prat.Andy_JS said:John Swinney: "The actions of Israel are completely beyond any justification".
https://x.com/ScotGovFM/status/19334598883629097053 -
So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?0 -
When I have read various musings about potential Israeli strikes on Iran before, it was always suggested that Irans nuclear facilities were buried deeply, and it was hard for Israel to reach them. Have they been breached? I can’t really find any clear commentary on the topic.Yokes said:The assessment seems to be that after two rounds of Israeli strikes against Iran is they have really done damage on three fronts, the nuclear programme, the ability to launch long range missiles, the military command structure.
Iran's return fire to Israel? So far, not much impact.
0 -
.
Showing your ignorance there, special paperwork needed from Mainland to somewhere else is far from unique to NI.RochdalePioneers said:
The clue was that you needed to apply for a customs license and then submit export paperwork to send products from Birmingham to Ballymena.BartholomewRoberts said:
I must have missed the break up, when did that occur? Last I checked we're still de jure one country even if de facto devolved nations have different rules to each other.RochdalePioneers said:
Yep. Breaking up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to suit England was the obvious play for the Conservative and Unionist Party.BartholomewRoberts said:
Big deal.bondegezou said:
And a deal that didn’t place a border down the Irish Sea!BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.
What’s that? It *did*!?
Don't let the NI tail wag the English dog.
Having a bit of paperwork affecting NI is far superior to England being in the backstop.
Suiting England is absolutely a far superior play to subjugating it under an undemocratic backstop.
One country is being able to move about without restrictions. Needing a licence? Naah
China: Hong Kong and Macau versus the Mainland. Try telling Beijing its not one country though.
Finland: Mainland (in EU) versus Aland Islands (outside).
Denmark: Mainland versus Faroe Islands & Greenland
Norway: Mainland versus Svalbard.
Italy: Mainland versus Livigno
Spain: Mainland versus Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melita.
Portugal Mainland versus Azores and Madeira.
USA: Mainland versus Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
Also USA: Mainland versus Foreign Trade Zones which includes Houston, Charleston, Brunswick, San Juan, Suffolk County, Memphis, Newark, San Jose and more. Did Memphis, Tennessee secede from the USA?
India: Mainland versus Special Economic Zones too0 -
The Trooping of the Colour is a wonderful tradition. It celebrates our armed forces rather than willy waving authoritarian military might.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?2 -
GB News
@GBNEWS
·
45m
'You had 14 years to fix this.'
An audience member calls out Robert Jenrick over Conservative failures.
https://x.com/GBNEWS/status/19336455638341100800 -
It is - of course - worth remembering that the Democrats will likely control the House of Representatives in 18 months time, so any money budgeted can easily be unbudgeted...Nigelb said:Last night Senate GOP laid out plan to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda with $150B+ in a Judiciary bill and homeland text from Lindsey Graham that’s designed to supplant the actual (lower $) Homeland committee text Rand Paul released last night
https://x.com/ellengilmer/status/1933507732578959420
That's over five times the annual budget for the FBI, Homeland Security and Federal Prisons put together.
Recipe for a police state.
The Customs and Border Force budget is less than $20bn.0 -
Really? Beyond "any" justification? You can argue until the cows come home that this was unwise, untimely, hasty, a strategic or tactical mistake, even an act of war etc.numbertwelve said:
Prat.Andy_JS said:John Swinney: "The actions of Israel are completely beyond any justification".
https://x.com/ScotGovFM/status/1933459888362909705
But no justification whatsoever?1 -
In part yes, in part no. It appears that strikes targeted the lifeblood infrastructure on the surface/near surface that enables the facilties to operate as well as trying to dig deepernumbertwelve said:
When I have read various musings about potential Israeli strikes on Iran before, it was always suggested that Irans nuclear facilities were buried deeply, and it was hard for Israel to reach them. Have they been breached? I can’t really find any clear commentary on the topic.Yokes said:The assessment seems to be that after two rounds of Israeli strikes against Iran is they have really done damage on three fronts, the nuclear programme, the ability to launch long range missiles, the military command structure.
Iran's return fire to Israel? So far, not much impact.0 -
Monarchy is such a Socialist institution!turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
Consider:
* A monarch has a "job for a life", so quintessentially Socialist!
* The hereditary principle is so common among Socialist dynasties around the world, such as the Kims in North Korea, the Nehru-Gandhis in India, and the Benn/Kinnocks in the UK!
* Pomp and circumstance: Trooping the Colour is merely a scaled down version of all those tightly choreographed North Korean parades!
So, I put it to you, PBers, that Monarchy = Socialism!0 -
Isn't it right to say that the Indian air crash must have been caused by some type of human error? Either by the pilots, or because the plane hadn't been maintained properly in some way. I can't see any other options (assuming foul play is ruled out).0
-
Doesn't the Trooping involve a few hundred military types on horseback parading around a park in London for an hour dressed in near Napoleonic war uniforms rather than hours of tanks and nukes driving passed the Great Leader?Mexicanpete said:
The Trooping of the Colour is a wonderful tradition. It celebrates our armed forces rather than willy waving authoritarian military might.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?1 -
0
-
Can it?rcs1000 said:
It is - of course - worth remembering that the Democrats will likely control the House of Representatives in 18 months time, so any money budgeted can easily be unbudgeted...Nigelb said:Last night Senate GOP laid out plan to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda with $150B+ in a Judiciary bill and homeland text from Lindsey Graham that’s designed to supplant the actual (lower $) Homeland committee text Rand Paul released last night
https://x.com/ellengilmer/status/1933507732578959420
That's over five times the annual budget for the FBI, Homeland Security and Federal Prisons put together.
Recipe for a police state.
The Customs and Border Force budget is less than $20bn.
Congress controls the purse strings theoretically but my understanding is once the money has been appropriated then its up to the executive how it gets spent.
If the approval has already been achieved, then can a new Congress easily rescind that?0 -
They set the budget each year.BartholomewRoberts said:
Can it?rcs1000 said:
It is - of course - worth remembering that the Democrats will likely control the House of Representatives in 18 months time, so any money budgeted can easily be unbudgeted...Nigelb said:Last night Senate GOP laid out plan to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda with $150B+ in a Judiciary bill and homeland text from Lindsey Graham that’s designed to supplant the actual (lower $) Homeland committee text Rand Paul released last night
https://x.com/ellengilmer/status/1933507732578959420
That's over five times the annual budget for the FBI, Homeland Security and Federal Prisons put together.
Recipe for a police state.
The Customs and Border Force budget is less than $20bn.
Congress controls the purse strings theoretically but my understanding is once the money has been appropriated then its up to the executive how it gets spent.
If the approval has already been achieved, then can a new Congress easily rescind that?1 -
I don't think much is ruled out at the moment. I wouldn't bother speculating about it, we'll get preliminary findings in a few weeks.Andy_JS said:Isn't it right to say that the Indian air crash must have been caused by some type of human error? Either by the pilots, or because the plane hadn't been maintained properly in some way. I can't see any other options (assuming foul play is ruled out).
0 -
No, Monarchy is the essence of traditional conservatism as opposed to free market libertarianism or nationalism. All communist states from the USSR to China to Cuba have been republics and the Kims have no aristocratic and royal blood nor do the Gandhis or Benns or Kinnocks.Sunil_Prasannan said:
Monarchy is such a Socialist institution!turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
Consider:
* A monarch has a "job for a life", so quintessentially Socialist!
* The hereditary principle is so common among Socialist dynasties around the world, such as the Kims in North Korea, the Nehru-Gandhis in India, and the Benn/Kinnocks in the UK!
* Pomp and circumstance: Trooping the Colour is merely a scaled down version of all those tightly choreographed North Korean parades!
So, I put it to you, PBers, that Monarchy = Socialism!
Hence conservatives also support inherited farms and family businesses too. Jobs for life has sod all to do with socialism, state control of the economy does0 -
But there's nothing else it could be. It can't be "bad luck" and it's not foul play.RobD said:
I don't think much is ruled out at the moment. I wouldn't bother speculating about it, we'll get preliminary findings in a few weeks.Andy_JS said:Isn't it right to say that the Indian air crash must have been caused by some type of human error? Either by the pilots, or because the plane hadn't been maintained properly in some way. I can't see any other options (assuming foul play is ruled out).
0 -
Could have been intentional, could have been a software or hardware problem.... I don't really see the reason to speculate since there will be a report on it in quite short order.Andy_JS said:
But there's nothing else it could be. It can't be "bad luck" and it's not foul play.RobD said:
I don't think much is ruled out at the moment. I wouldn't bother speculating about it, we'll get preliminary findings in a few weeks.Andy_JS said:Isn't it right to say that the Indian air crash must have been caused by some type of human error? Either by the pilots, or because the plane hadn't been maintained properly in some way. I can't see any other options (assuming foul play is ruled out).
0 -
Ultimately all air accidents are human error one way or another.Andy_JS said:
But there's nothing else it could be. It can't be "bad luck" and it's not foul play.RobD said:
I don't think much is ruled out at the moment. I wouldn't bother speculating about it, we'll get preliminary findings in a few weeks.Andy_JS said:Isn't it right to say that the Indian air crash must have been caused by some type of human error? Either by the pilots, or because the plane hadn't been maintained properly in some way. I can't see any other options (assuming foul play is ruled out).
Usually by more than one human.0 -
It disrupts and slows Iran's process towards a bomb: but unless Iran actually loses enriched uranium, then they continue to progress (albeit more slowly) towards nuclear power status.Yokes said:
In part yes, in part no. It appears that strikes targeted the lifeblood infrastructure on the surface/near surface that enables the facilties to operate as well as trying to dig deepernumbertwelve said:
When I have read various musings about potential Israeli strikes on Iran before, it was always suggested that Irans nuclear facilities were buried deeply, and it was hard for Israel to reach them. Have they been breached? I can’t really find any clear commentary on the topic.Yokes said:The assessment seems to be that after two rounds of Israeli strikes against Iran is they have really done damage on three fronts, the nuclear programme, the ability to launch long range missiles, the military command structure.
Iran's return fire to Israel? So far, not much impact.
Ultimately though, all a bomb is is some enriched uranium and a shaped charge. So long as they're accumulating enriched uranium, then they're on the path.1 -
Here's my (not very informed, long lapsed PPL) guess:Andy_JS said:
But there's nothing else it could be. It can't be "bad luck" and it's not foul play.RobD said:
I don't think much is ruled out at the moment. I wouldn't bother speculating about it, we'll get preliminary findings in a few weeks.Andy_JS said:Isn't it right to say that the Indian air crash must have been caused by some type of human error? Either by the pilots, or because the plane hadn't been maintained properly in some way. I can't see any other options (assuming foul play is ruled out).
1. There was some some kind of fuel contamination, meaning the engines were not running at full power output
2. It was a very hot day, which meant that
(a) the air was heavy and
(b) company policy was to delay retracting the undercarriage to allow it to cool in the climb out
3. The plane was at MTOW, or maybe even slightly above
(Possible 3a: the flaps may not have been properly extended.)
These factors meant that the plane was not generating as much lift as it should have done, and the pilots struggled to get it to climb.
And this is where pilot error kicked in.
4. They should have stowed the undercarriage, irrespective of company policy, so as to get the aircraft as clean as possible and to minimize drag.
and
5. They attempted to make the plane climb by pulling back on the yoke. That's disastrous, unfortunately, because that means there's an ever higher angle of attack and the plane gets slower and slower and slower, and starts to descend. The first lesson of every PPL is you don't pull back to make the plane climb, you add power.. They needed to overcome their very human instinct and get the nose down so they could gain speed. Because airflow over the wings is life, and pulling back is the worst thing you can do.1 -
Fun fact I learned today. When a tennis player plays in the UK, not only do we take tax on their winnings, we also want 1/365 of their annual endorsement income (say, for wearing Nike clothing) for each day they are here and do activity related to tennis. For tennis players resident in most places, this is no problem - double taxation treaties apply. But for tennis players resident in Monaco, this can lead to tax bills outweighing any money they could earn from the tournament. This is apparently why many tennis players avoid Queen's in the run up to Wimbledon...1
-
The real reason Israel struck, now: "Iranian officials have expanded a ban on dog walking to a swathe of cities across the country, citing public order and health and safety concerns.
The ban - which mirrors a 2019 police order that barred dog walking in the capital, Tehran - has been extended to at least 18 other cities in the past week. Transporting dogs in vehicles has also been outlawed."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0gngq4wjqo
2 -
Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE0 -
That makes sense: it explains why the (a) the gear wasn't retracted and (b) the flaps don't appear to have been fully extended. Basically: the pilot retracted the wrong thing, then compounded the error by continuing to pull back on the yoke when he should have pushed the nose down.Andy_JS said:Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE0 -
It's almost pointless to speculate at the moment - we don't really have the information.rcs1000 said:
That makes sense: it explains why the (a) the gear wasn't retracted and (b) the flaps don't appear to have been fully extended. Basically: the pilot retracted the wrong thing, then compounded the error by continuing to pull back on the yoke when he should have pushed the nose down.Andy_JS said:Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE
But it's important to remember two things:
*) It is rare for there to be a single cause for an accident. There are often causal factors: e.g. if the pilot was drunk, why did no-one notice the pilot was drunk? If the wrong bolt was used in maintenance, why was it used? Why was the work signed off? Was the work signed off? If the pilot flipped the wrong switch, what human factors caused him to flip the wrong switch?
*) Everyone wants to blame the pilots. For the airlines, it is easier to blame the pilots than maintenance. For Airbus or Boeing, blaming the pilots is great. For the engine manufacturers, ditto. Therefore people in the industry tend to look at all the causal factors and pick the ones that blame human error, and especially the pilots.
So if the pilots did make mistakes, why did they do so? were there other problems on the flightdeck that contributed to the mistake?
But putting my hat of speculation on: I think they suffered from a loss of power. Something caused the plane to lose power, and any changes to procedure on flaps and landing gear might have been because they were working other problems for those few seconds.
But we'll know more in a few weeks.4 -
Good morning, everyone.
In tremendously important news, I think I'm going to put up the pre-qualifying wibble earlier than usual, as FP3 is 5.30pm and that's kind of annoying for me.
I'm not sure if this will affect the Israel/Iran situation but I thought you might want to know.2 -
Sounds like he has bitten off more than he can cope with. A crie de coeur for other to join him in his holy war. If it continues the change of regime may be elsewhere.BartholomewRoberts said:Netanyahu calling for regime change in Iran. Good!
During the address, he said that Israel's fight is not with the Iranian people, but against Iran's leadership.
He listed Iranian targets that have been hit by Israel, including military and nuclear sites, and adds: "More is on the way. The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker.
"This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard," he tells the Iranian people.
He reiterates that Israel's objective is to thwart what he describes as Iran's nuclear and missile "threat".
"As we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom," he says, adding: "The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime.1 -
These are also Napoleonic costumes. Perhaps they would be more fitting given the poor state of our forces. Landzette in the Aosta valley in Italy.rottenborough said:
Doesn't the Trooping involve a few hundred military types on horseback parading around a park in London for an hour dressed in near Napoleonic war uniforms rather than hours of tanks and nukes driving passed the Great Leader?Mexicanpete said:
The Trooping of the Colour is a wonderful tradition. It celebrates our armed forces rather than willy waving authoritarian military might.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
0 -
Good morning, everyone.
We were discussing pseudonyms the other day. I think currently one of he few I know who is maintaining anonymity and not even appearing on his own videos whilst having become authoritative is Perun, the military analyst who makes his videos from Powerpoint presentations.
Are there others?0 -
It's a good job it was America, not this country.rottenborough said:Meanwhile, life goes on in America:
Collin Rugg
@CollinRugg
NEW: Texas Judge Raquel West shreds a man in felony court after he showed up wearing a shirt that read "World's Best Farter."
"What made you think that was a good shirt to wear to court this morning?"
"That's great... You're in felony court, you need to dress appropriately to felony court."
https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1933626124204220770
1 -
Pointlessly shredding what's left of Gaza is beyond any justification and entirely counter-productive.Andy_JS said:John Swinney: "The actions of Israel are completely beyond any justification".
https://x.com/ScotGovFM/status/1933459888362909705
Going after the nuclear weapons programme of a mad, fanatical government that has funded more terrorism than any other country and repeatedly threatened to destroy you and most of the free world is fully justified. We'd do exactly the same thing if we had to.2 -
If you can't walk them and can't move them in vehicles, how are you supposed to get them about, even to have them put down (which is what the ayatollahs clearly want)? Hitch a trailer to a bicycle?Jim_Miller said:The real reason Israel struck, now: "Iranian officials have expanded a ban on dog walking to a swathe of cities across the country, citing public order and health and safety concerns.
The ban - which mirrors a 2019 police order that barred dog walking in the capital, Tehran - has been extended to at least 18 other cities in the past week. Transporting dogs in vehicles has also been outlawed."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0gngq4wjqo
Honestly, they're so stupid even the Department for Education must look down on them.0 -
Ours is a lot more pomp and circumstance. Trump’s line of tanks is more like N Korea’s and Russia’s.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?1 -
Very small, you mean?bondegezou said:
Ours is a lot more pomp and circumstance. Trump’s line of tanks is more like N Korea’s and Russia’s.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
Oh sorry, you mean actual tanks, not a euphemism for something else?0 -
They don’t want anyone to have dogs. (Cats are fine.)ydoethur said:
If you can't walk them and can't move them in vehicles, how are you supposed to get them about, even to have them put down (which is what the ayatollahs clearly want)? Hitch a trailer to a bicycle?Jim_Miller said:The real reason Israel struck, now: "Iranian officials have expanded a ban on dog walking to a swathe of cities across the country, citing public order and health and safety concerns.
The ban - which mirrors a 2019 police order that barred dog walking in the capital, Tehran - has been extended to at least 18 other cities in the past week. Transporting dogs in vehicles has also been outlawed."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0gngq4wjqo
Honestly, they're so stupid even the Department for Education must look down on them.0 -
.
Agreed... but how likely, though ?rcs1000 said:
It is - of course - worth remembering that the Democrats will likely control the House of Representatives in 18 months time, so any money budgeted can easily be unbudgeted...Nigelb said:Last night Senate GOP laid out plan to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda with $150B+ in a Judiciary bill and homeland text from Lindsey Graham that’s designed to supplant the actual (lower $) Homeland committee text Rand Paul released last night
https://x.com/ellengilmer/status/1933507732578959420
That's over five times the annual budget for the FBI, Homeland Security and Federal Prisons put together.
Recipe for a police state.
The Customs and Border Force budget is less than $20bn.
There's a year and a half to go, and I'm not 100% confident that the poll will be free and fair.
Particularly if the administration has that much cash to play with for building a new domestic police force.1 -
Not long before those guys in cuirasses are the UK’s last line of defence.rottenborough said:
Doesn't the Trooping involve a few hundred military types on horseback parading around a park in London for an hour dressed in near Napoleonic war uniforms rather than hours of tanks and nukes driving passed the Great Leader?Mexicanpete said:
The Trooping of the Colour is a wonderful tradition. It celebrates our armed forces rather than willy waving authoritarian military might.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
The Red Arrows fly past could be considered a nod to modernity, but the idea that they might put the shits up the King’s enemies is far fetched.0 -
ICE is now arresting Afghan allies—at their first court hearing—after they entered legally via CBP One, filed asylum + SIV paperwork, and followed every damn rule.
They’re using “improvidently issued” like a magic phrase to disappear people.
https://x.com/shawnjvandiver/status/1933608740298878983
0 -
Bibi’s record on persuading people in other countries to go along with him without wielding a big stick isn’t great. Even the most ardent opponent of the mullahs would be entitled to be skeptical that Netanyahu has their best (or any) interests in mind.Battlebus said:
Sounds like he has bitten off more than he can cope with. A crie de coeur for other to join him in his holy war. If it continues the change of regime may be elsewhere.BartholomewRoberts said:Netanyahu calling for regime change in Iran. Good!
During the address, he said that Israel's fight is not with the Iranian people, but against Iran's leadership.
He listed Iranian targets that have been hit by Israel, including military and nuclear sites, and adds: "More is on the way. The regime does not know what hit them, or what will hit them. It has never been weaker.
"This is your opportunity to stand up and let your voices be heard," he tells the Iranian people.
He reiterates that Israel's objective is to thwart what he describes as Iran's nuclear and missile "threat".
"As we achieve our objective, we are also clearing the path for you to achieve your freedom," he says, adding: "The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime.0 -
Can you name a nation that does not have pomp and ceremonies in their military?Theuniondivvie said:
Not long before those guys in cuirasses are the UK’s last line of defence.rottenborough said:
Doesn't the Trooping involve a few hundred military types on horseback parading around a park in London for an hour dressed in near Napoleonic war uniforms rather than hours of tanks and nukes driving passed the Great Leader?Mexicanpete said:
The Trooping of the Colour is a wonderful tradition. It celebrates our armed forces rather than willy waving authoritarian military might.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
The Red Arrows fly past could be considered a nod to modernity, but the idea that they might put the shits up the King’s enemies is far fetched.
I await an independent Scotland being protected by a descendant of Mad Jack Churchill on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle, armed only with broadsword, bagpipes and whatever lies beneath his kilt...
0 -
Couple of other points.Nigelb said:.
Agreed... but how likely, though ?rcs1000 said:
It is - of course - worth remembering that the Democrats will likely control the House of Representatives in 18 months time, so any money budgeted can easily be unbudgeted...Nigelb said:Last night Senate GOP laid out plan to fund Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda with $150B+ in a Judiciary bill and homeland text from Lindsey Graham that’s designed to supplant the actual (lower $) Homeland committee text Rand Paul released last night
https://x.com/ellengilmer/status/1933507732578959420
That's over five times the annual budget for the FBI, Homeland Security and Federal Prisons put together.
Recipe for a police state.
The Customs and Border Force budget is less than $20bn.
There's a year and a half to go, and I'm not 100% confident that the poll will be free and fair.
Particularly if the administration has that much cash to play with for building a new domestic police force.
One is that this plan can do a lot of bad stuff in eighteen months. The other is that there is a bit of a political Pooh Trap being set. We can all predict who will say "Horrible Democrats want to cut beautiful border protection" and who will say "silly Democrats ignoring what the people want again."0 -
Trump's Birthday Parade is solely about Trump. I'd say a better comparison is this Idi Amin 4th Anniversary of the Coup parade in 1975. Though in Amin's case it is self-regarding fat man in a Jeep, not on a golf cart.bondegezou said:
Ours is a lot more pomp and circumstance. Trump’s line of tanks is more like N Korea’s and Russia’s.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
IIUC, they are doing an entire circuit of the Mall.
Watch the clip for a minute, and it's quite a Ministry of Silly Walks. Each group of soldiers has their own style of perambulation. The baton man leading the kilted group seems to be rehearsing for the evening's dancing? (One for PBAi: Where do this formation's traditions come from ?).
https://youtu.be/7hAJH4e2hr4?t=44
Trump's parade involves 28 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 28 Stryker combat vehicles, four M-109 Paladin, 34 horses, 2 mules and 1 dog.0 -
I think the video evidence is increasingly showing that they did have flaps extended.JosiasJessop said:
It's almost pointless to speculate at the moment - we don't really have the information.rcs1000 said:
That makes sense: it explains why the (a) the gear wasn't retracted and (b) the flaps don't appear to have been fully extended. Basically: the pilot retracted the wrong thing, then compounded the error by continuing to pull back on the yoke when he should have pushed the nose down.Andy_JS said:Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE
But it's important to remember two things:
*) It is rare for there to be a single cause for an accident. There are often causal factors: e.g. if the pilot was drunk, why did no-one notice the pilot was drunk? If the wrong bolt was used in maintenance, why was it used? Why was the work signed off? Was the work signed off? If the pilot flipped the wrong switch, what human factors caused him to flip the wrong switch?
*) Everyone wants to blame the pilots. For the airlines, it is easier to blame the pilots than maintenance. For Airbus or Boeing, blaming the pilots is great. For the engine manufacturers, ditto. Therefore people in the industry tend to look at all the causal factors and pick the ones that blame human error, and especially the pilots.
So if the pilots did make mistakes, why did they do so? were there other problems on the flightdeck that contributed to the mistake?
But putting my hat of speculation on: I think they suffered from a loss of power. Something caused the plane to lose power, and any changes to procedure on flaps and landing gear might have been because they were working other problems for those few seconds.
But we'll know more in a few weeks.
I've read plausible suggestions that the landing gear wasn't quite in the fully down position, as if it had just started to stow, then there had been a hydraulic failure.
It looks horribly like a double engine failure just as they came off the floor - in which case the poor guys up front become almost as much passengers as the rest of them.
The stuff about getting the nose down to increase speed and stretch the glide is only useful if you've either got a working donk to get it flying properly or somewhere flat and empty you're aiming for on the floor. If you're going to have to flop into a built up area, imho you might be better trying to stall it 10' above roof level - whatever happens isn't going to be pretty, and the slower it happens the more chance of it being survivable for somebody.2 -
You missed off the longbow.JosiasJessop said:
Can you name a nation that does not have pomp and ceremonies in their military?Theuniondivvie said:
Not long before those guys in cuirasses are the UK’s last line of defence.rottenborough said:
Doesn't the Trooping involve a few hundred military types on horseback parading around a park in London for an hour dressed in near Napoleonic war uniforms rather than hours of tanks and nukes driving passed the Great Leader?Mexicanpete said:
The Trooping of the Colour is a wonderful tradition. It celebrates our armed forces rather than willy waving authoritarian military might.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
The Red Arrows fly past could be considered a nod to modernity, but the idea that they might put the shits up the King’s enemies is far fetched.
I await an independent Scotland being protected by a descendant of Mad Jack Churchill on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle, armed only with broadsword, bagpipes and whatever lies beneath his kilt...0 -
If Israel really wants regime change in Iran, going after the military leaders is fine and dandy. But for real effect, you need to go after the civil police, and particularly the Guidance Patrol (*). Get their offices and leaders. For they are the main force subjugating the people on the ground, not the military.
They have always been the main force crushing protests on the ground.
(Incidentally, for anyone backing Iran because they're fighting Israel: read this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_during_the_Mahsa_Amini_protests )
(*) Often known as the morality police; the force who go around ensuring everything is done in a 'proper' Islamic fashion. And whose actions often lead to protests.0 -
Don’t do humour, it doesn’t suit you.JosiasJessop said:
Can you name a nation that does not have pomp and ceremonies in their military?Theuniondivvie said:
Not long before those guys in cuirasses are the UK’s last line of defence.rottenborough said:
Doesn't the Trooping involve a few hundred military types on horseback parading around a park in London for an hour dressed in near Napoleonic war uniforms rather than hours of tanks and nukes driving passed the Great Leader?Mexicanpete said:
The Trooping of the Colour is a wonderful tradition. It celebrates our armed forces rather than willy waving authoritarian military might.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
The Red Arrows fly past could be considered a nod to modernity, but the idea that they might put the shits up the King’s enemies is far fetched.
I await an independent Scotland being protected by a descendant of Mad Jack Churchill on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle, armed only with broadsword, bagpipes and whatever lies beneath his kilt...
I’m pretty sure there are lots and lots of countries that don’t do ‘pomp and ceremonies in their military’ to celebrate a made up birthday for their head of state. In fact I’d say almost all of the countries.0 -
F1: was tempted to back Russell, but chose against making a bet. If you've got a free one, might be worth a shot.
https://morrisf1.blogspot.com/2025/06/canadian-grand-prix-2025-pre-qualifying.html1 -
How often do we kill troops while moving them to London for a political parade ?JosiasJessop said:
Can you name a nation that does not have pomp and ceremonies in their military?Theuniondivvie said:
Not long before those guys in cuirasses are the UK’s last line of defence.rottenborough said:
Doesn't the Trooping involve a few hundred military types on horseback parading around a park in London for an hour dressed in near Napoleonic war uniforms rather than hours of tanks and nukes driving passed the Great Leader?Mexicanpete said:
The Trooping of the Colour is a wonderful tradition. It celebrates our armed forces rather than willy waving authoritarian military might.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
The Red Arrows fly past could be considered a nod to modernity, but the idea that they might put the shits up the King’s enemies is far fetched.
I await an independent Scotland being protected by a descendant of Mad Jack Churchill on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle, armed only with broadsword, bagpipes and whatever lies beneath his kilt...0 -
There's a couple of things we know.JosiasJessop said:
It's almost pointless to speculate at the moment - we don't really have the information.rcs1000 said:
That makes sense: it explains why the (a) the gear wasn't retracted and (b) the flaps don't appear to have been fully extended. Basically: the pilot retracted the wrong thing, then compounded the error by continuing to pull back on the yoke when he should have pushed the nose down.Andy_JS said:Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE
But it's important to remember two things:
*) It is rare for there to be a single cause for an accident. There are often causal factors: e.g. if the pilot was drunk, why did no-one notice the pilot was drunk? If the wrong bolt was used in maintenance, why was it used? Why was the work signed off? Was the work signed off? If the pilot flipped the wrong switch, what human factors caused him to flip the wrong switch?
*) Everyone wants to blame the pilots. For the airlines, it is easier to blame the pilots than maintenance. For Airbus or Boeing, blaming the pilots is great. For the engine manufacturers, ditto. Therefore people in the industry tend to look at all the causal factors and pick the ones that blame human error, and especially the pilots.
So if the pilots did make mistakes, why did they do so? were there other problems on the flightdeck that contributed to the mistake?
But putting my hat of speculation on: I think they suffered from a loss of power. Something caused the plane to lose power, and any changes to procedure on flaps and landing gear might have been because they were working other problems for those few seconds.
But we'll know more in a few weeks.
1. The plane initially had enough power to take-off and climb a bit - and then didn't.
2. The sole survivor from the plane states that shortly after takeoff there was a bang, and then the plane began to descend.
The first suggests that something changed after takeoff to bring the plane down. The second suggests that the something was mechanical.
But, yes, we'll know soon.1 -
There was a numpty 'expert' in BBC shortly after the accident who basically said: "we don't know what happened, but from looking at the grainy footage there were no flaps and the landing gear as down and therefore it was pilot error."theProle said:
I think the video evidence is increasingly showing that they did have flaps extended.JosiasJessop said:
It's almost pointless to speculate at the moment - we don't really have the information.rcs1000 said:
That makes sense: it explains why the (a) the gear wasn't retracted and (b) the flaps don't appear to have been fully extended. Basically: the pilot retracted the wrong thing, then compounded the error by continuing to pull back on the yoke when he should have pushed the nose down.Andy_JS said:Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE
But it's important to remember two things:
*) It is rare for there to be a single cause for an accident. There are often causal factors: e.g. if the pilot was drunk, why did no-one notice the pilot was drunk? If the wrong bolt was used in maintenance, why was it used? Why was the work signed off? Was the work signed off? If the pilot flipped the wrong switch, what human factors caused him to flip the wrong switch?
*) Everyone wants to blame the pilots. For the airlines, it is easier to blame the pilots than maintenance. For Airbus or Boeing, blaming the pilots is great. For the engine manufacturers, ditto. Therefore people in the industry tend to look at all the causal factors and pick the ones that blame human error, and especially the pilots.
So if the pilots did make mistakes, why did they do so? were there other problems on the flightdeck that contributed to the mistake?
But putting my hat of speculation on: I think they suffered from a loss of power. Something caused the plane to lose power, and any changes to procedure on flaps and landing gear might have been because they were working other problems for those few seconds.
But we'll know more in a few weeks.
I've read plausible suggestions that the landing gear wasn't quite in the fully down position, as if it had just started to stow, then there had been a hydraulic failure.
It looks horribly like a double engine failure just as they came off the floor - in which case the poor guys up front become almost as much passengers as the rest of them.
The stuff about getting the nose down to increase speed and stretch the glide is only useful if you've either got a working donk to get it flying properly or somewhere flat and empty you're aiming for on the floor. If you're going to have to flop into a built up area, imho you might be better trying to stall it 10' above roof level - whatever happens isn't going to be pretty, and the slower it happens the more chance of it being survivable for somebody.
I've no problem with that being given as one possible cause, but my issue is with the way he, and the presenter, focused on it. He did not even suggest that, even if flaps were not correctly set, the crew might have been fighting other issues on the flightdeck at the time.
Many people will now be thinking that it was the pilots' fault.
(But I'll spare most of my contempt for those lovely people online who immediately started claiming it was deliberate, or pilot suicide...)0 -
(Checking with ChatGPT, they are alleged to be the:MattW said:
Trump's Birthday Parade is solely about Trump. I'd say a better comparison is this Idi Amin 4th Anniversary of the Coup parade in 1975. Though in Amin's case it is self-regarding fat man in a Jeep, not on a golf cart.bondegezou said:
Ours is a lot more pomp and circumstance. Trump’s line of tanks is more like N Korea’s and Russia’s.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
IIUC, they are doing an entire circuit of the Mall.
Watch the clip for a minute, and it's quite a Ministry of Silly Walks. Each group of soldiers has their own style of perambulation. The baton man leading the kilted group seems to be rehearsing for the evening's dancing? (One for PBAi: Where do this formation's traditions come from ?).
https://youtu.be/7hAJH4e2hr4?t=44
Trump's parade involves 28 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 28 Stryker combat vehicles, four M-109 Paladin, 34 horses, 2 mules and 1 dog.
Malire Regiment, specifically its full-dress pipe band. During that era, the Malire Regiment wore a distinctive “highland”-style ceremony uniform, complete with glengarry cap, tartan ties, sporrans, kilts, and long tartan socks—typically in a red-based Royal Stuart tartan—with white belts. )
(And yes, @Morris_Dancer , there was a longbow in it a little before my deep link.)0 -
This is a good, balanced and non-technical video about why trillions in foreign aid haven't boosted development overall and have sometimes been completely counter-productive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFRTviAVthU1 -
1) is counterintuitively not necessarily true. Aircraft have very little drag during the initial phase of their takeoff run. It's only when you reach takeoff speed and rotate that the drag becomes anything like normal.LostPassword said:
There's a couple of things we know.JosiasJessop said:
It's almost pointless to speculate at the moment - we don't really have the information.rcs1000 said:
That makes sense: it explains why the (a) the gear wasn't retracted and (b) the flaps don't appear to have been fully extended. Basically: the pilot retracted the wrong thing, then compounded the error by continuing to pull back on the yoke when he should have pushed the nose down.Andy_JS said:Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE
But it's important to remember two things:
*) It is rare for there to be a single cause for an accident. There are often causal factors: e.g. if the pilot was drunk, why did no-one notice the pilot was drunk? If the wrong bolt was used in maintenance, why was it used? Why was the work signed off? Was the work signed off? If the pilot flipped the wrong switch, what human factors caused him to flip the wrong switch?
*) Everyone wants to blame the pilots. For the airlines, it is easier to blame the pilots than maintenance. For Airbus or Boeing, blaming the pilots is great. For the engine manufacturers, ditto. Therefore people in the industry tend to look at all the causal factors and pick the ones that blame human error, and especially the pilots.
So if the pilots did make mistakes, why did they do so? were there other problems on the flightdeck that contributed to the mistake?
But putting my hat of speculation on: I think they suffered from a loss of power. Something caused the plane to lose power, and any changes to procedure on flaps and landing gear might have been because they were working other problems for those few seconds.
But we'll know more in a few weeks.
1. The plane initially had enough power to take-off and climb a bit - and then didn't.
2. The sole survivor from the plane states that shortly after takeoff there was a bang, and then the plane began to descend.
The first suggests that something changed after takeoff to bring the plane down. The second suggests that the something was mechanical.
But, yes, we'll know soon.
It's therefore quite possible to get an aircraft off the ground without sufficient engine power to keep it in the air. The flight path if this happens is quite like the accident flight - you go bombing down the runway, rotate, takeoff, the aircraft climbs but slows rapidly, the pilot sticks the nose down to avoid a stall, and floats into the deck shortly after.
I don't think it's what happened here, but with a potentially overweight aircraft and engines heavily derated because of the air temperature it's certainly not outside the bounds of possibilities.
3 -
My "ignorance". About imports. One of us has an EORI licence, the other does not.BartholomewRoberts said:.
Showing your ignorance there, special paperwork needed from Mainland to somewhere else is far from unique to NI.RochdalePioneers said:
The clue was that you needed to apply for a customs license and then submit export paperwork to send products from Birmingham to Ballymena.BartholomewRoberts said:
I must have missed the break up, when did that occur? Last I checked we're still de jure one country even if de facto devolved nations have different rules to each other.RochdalePioneers said:
Yep. Breaking up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to suit England was the obvious play for the Conservative and Unionist Party.BartholomewRoberts said:
Big deal.bondegezou said:
And a deal that didn’t place a border down the Irish Sea!BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.
What’s that? It *did*!?
Don't let the NI tail wag the English dog.
Having a bit of paperwork affecting NI is far superior to England being in the backstop.
Suiting England is absolutely a far superior play to subjugating it under an undemocratic backstop.
One country is being able to move about without restrictions. Needing a licence? Naah
China: Hong Kong and Macau versus the Mainland. Try telling Beijing its not one country though.
Finland: Mainland (in EU) versus Aland Islands (outside).
Denmark: Mainland versus Faroe Islands & Greenland
Norway: Mainland versus Svalbard.
Italy: Mainland versus Livigno
Spain: Mainland versus Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melita.
Portugal Mainland versus Azores and Madeira.
USA: Mainland versus Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
Also USA: Mainland versus Foreign Trade Zones which includes Houston, Charleston, Brunswick, San Juan, Suffolk County, Memphis, Newark, San Jose and more. Did Memphis, Tennessee secede from the USA?
India: Mainland versus Special Economic Zones too
Before the Boris deal the UK was a single customs zone. It is now two customs zones. Which is why Northern Ireland draws most of its foodstuffs from the Republic these days, as opposed to the Republic drawing most from the UK as it was in the bad old days.
Feel free to lecture me about my business some more. It's fun...0 -
Ah, interesting.theProle said:
1) is counterintuitively not necessarily true. Aircraft have very little drag during the initial phase of their takeoff run. It's only when you reach takeoff speed and rotate that the drag becomes anything like normal.LostPassword said:
There's a couple of things we know.JosiasJessop said:
It's almost pointless to speculate at the moment - we don't really have the information.rcs1000 said:
That makes sense: it explains why the (a) the gear wasn't retracted and (b) the flaps don't appear to have been fully extended. Basically: the pilot retracted the wrong thing, then compounded the error by continuing to pull back on the yoke when he should have pushed the nose down.Andy_JS said:Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE
But it's important to remember two things:
*) It is rare for there to be a single cause for an accident. There are often causal factors: e.g. if the pilot was drunk, why did no-one notice the pilot was drunk? If the wrong bolt was used in maintenance, why was it used? Why was the work signed off? Was the work signed off? If the pilot flipped the wrong switch, what human factors caused him to flip the wrong switch?
*) Everyone wants to blame the pilots. For the airlines, it is easier to blame the pilots than maintenance. For Airbus or Boeing, blaming the pilots is great. For the engine manufacturers, ditto. Therefore people in the industry tend to look at all the causal factors and pick the ones that blame human error, and especially the pilots.
So if the pilots did make mistakes, why did they do so? were there other problems on the flightdeck that contributed to the mistake?
But putting my hat of speculation on: I think they suffered from a loss of power. Something caused the plane to lose power, and any changes to procedure on flaps and landing gear might have been because they were working other problems for those few seconds.
But we'll know more in a few weeks.
1. The plane initially had enough power to take-off and climb a bit - and then didn't.
2. The sole survivor from the plane states that shortly after takeoff there was a bang, and then the plane began to descend.
The first suggests that something changed after takeoff to bring the plane down. The second suggests that the something was mechanical.
But, yes, we'll know soon.
It's therefore quite possible to get an aircraft off the ground without sufficient engine power to keep it in the air. The flight path if this happens is quite like the accident flight - you go bombing down the runway, rotate, takeoff, the aircraft climbs but slows rapidly, the pilot sticks the nose down to avoid a stall, and floats into the deck shortly after.
I don't think it's what happened here, but with a potentially overweight aircraft and engines heavily derated because of the air temperature it's certainly not outside the bounds of possibilities.0 -
I didn't say anything about "to celebrate a made up birthday for their head of state."Theuniondivvie said:
Don’t do humour, it doesn’t suit you.JosiasJessop said:
Can you name a nation that does not have pomp and ceremonies in their military?Theuniondivvie said:
Not long before those guys in cuirasses are the UK’s last line of defence.rottenborough said:
Doesn't the Trooping involve a few hundred military types on horseback parading around a park in London for an hour dressed in near Napoleonic war uniforms rather than hours of tanks and nukes driving passed the Great Leader?Mexicanpete said:
The Trooping of the Colour is a wonderful tradition. It celebrates our armed forces rather than willy waving authoritarian military might.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
The Red Arrows fly past could be considered a nod to modernity, but the idea that they might put the shits up the King’s enemies is far fetched.
I await an independent Scotland being protected by a descendant of Mad Jack Churchill on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle, armed only with broadsword, bagpipes and whatever lies beneath his kilt...
I’m pretty sure there are lots and lots of countries that don’t do ‘pomp and ceremonies in their military’ to celebrate a made up birthday for their head of state. In fact I’d say almost all of the countries.
I bet most countries have such celebrations with their militaries dressed up in silly uniforms that have little to do with modern warfare. E.g. Bastille Day in France, or the Große Zapfenstreich in Germany.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhQkku7jLfo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNmUKUWCSCs
And an independent Scotland would have one as well. And yes, the leaders of an independent Scotland might well be there to take the troops' salutes.0 -
NEW THREAD
0 -
One YouTuber went into this. If I undestood it correctly, when the plane is accelerating down the runway, it has a relatively low cross-section. So whilst there is drag from the wheels, there is less airframe drag. When it goes airborne, it goes into ground effect, which helps keep it up. But the nose up attitude dramatically increases airframe drag. And when it lifts out of ground effect, that helpful lift is removed.theProle said:
1) is counterintuitively not necessarily true. Aircraft have very little drag during the initial phase of their takeoff run. It's only when you reach takeoff speed and rotate that the drag becomes anything like normal.LostPassword said:
There's a couple of things we know.JosiasJessop said:
It's almost pointless to speculate at the moment - we don't really have the information.rcs1000 said:
That makes sense: it explains why the (a) the gear wasn't retracted and (b) the flaps don't appear to have been fully extended. Basically: the pilot retracted the wrong thing, then compounded the error by continuing to pull back on the yoke when he should have pushed the nose down.Andy_JS said:Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE
But it's important to remember two things:
*) It is rare for there to be a single cause for an accident. There are often causal factors: e.g. if the pilot was drunk, why did no-one notice the pilot was drunk? If the wrong bolt was used in maintenance, why was it used? Why was the work signed off? Was the work signed off? If the pilot flipped the wrong switch, what human factors caused him to flip the wrong switch?
*) Everyone wants to blame the pilots. For the airlines, it is easier to blame the pilots than maintenance. For Airbus or Boeing, blaming the pilots is great. For the engine manufacturers, ditto. Therefore people in the industry tend to look at all the causal factors and pick the ones that blame human error, and especially the pilots.
So if the pilots did make mistakes, why did they do so? were there other problems on the flightdeck that contributed to the mistake?
But putting my hat of speculation on: I think they suffered from a loss of power. Something caused the plane to lose power, and any changes to procedure on flaps and landing gear might have been because they were working other problems for those few seconds.
But we'll know more in a few weeks.
1. The plane initially had enough power to take-off and climb a bit - and then didn't.
2. The sole survivor from the plane states that shortly after takeoff there was a bang, and then the plane began to descend.
The first suggests that something changed after takeoff to bring the plane down. The second suggests that the something was mechanical.
But, yes, we'll know soon.
It's therefore quite possible to get an aircraft off the ground without sufficient engine power to keep it in the air. The flight path if this happens is quite like the accident flight - you go bombing down the runway, rotate, takeoff, the aircraft climbs but slows rapidly, the pilot sticks the nose down to avoid a stall, and floats into the deck shortly after.
I don't think it's what happened here, but with a potentially overweight aircraft and engines heavily derated because of the air temperature it's certainly not outside the bounds of possibilities.
So if a plane has just enough power, then it can take off, fly for a bit, but not have enough power to actually climb.
The weather can also have a significant effect. From the sounds of it the plane wasn't massively heavy - it did not have a full fuel load - but it was very hot. And planes find it harder to take off in hot weather.
https://worldaviationato.com/en/airplane-ground-effect/
Therefore it is feasible that, for some reason, perhaps mechanical or setup, the engines did not have enough thrust, or lost thrust just before liftoff. Too late to cancel take off. Which may be why the alleged Mayday call happened so early.0 -
Is there a thing about Islamists and dogs? I seem to recall that Hamas were terrified of dogs in the tunnelsbondegezou said:
They don’t want anyone to have dogs. (Cats are fine.)ydoethur said:
If you can't walk them and can't move them in vehicles, how are you supposed to get them about, even to have them put down (which is what the ayatollahs clearly want)? Hitch a trailer to a bicycle?Jim_Miller said:The real reason Israel struck, now: "Iranian officials have expanded a ban on dog walking to a swathe of cities across the country, citing public order and health and safety concerns.
The ban - which mirrors a 2019 police order that barred dog walking in the capital, Tehran - has been extended to at least 18 other cities in the past week. Transporting dogs in vehicles has also been outlawed."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0gngq4wjqo
Honestly, they're so stupid even the Department for Education must look down on them.
0 -
In a lot of the Islamic world dogs are not regarded as either domestic or clean animals. I am in the minority that has some sympathy with this view.geoffw said:
Is there a thing about Islamists and dogs? I seem to recall that Hamas were terrified of dogs in the tunnelsbondegezou said:
They don’t want anyone to have dogs. (Cats are fine.)ydoethur said:
If you can't walk them and can't move them in vehicles, how are you supposed to get them about, even to have them put down (which is what the ayatollahs clearly want)? Hitch a trailer to a bicycle?Jim_Miller said:The real reason Israel struck, now: "Iranian officials have expanded a ban on dog walking to a swathe of cities across the country, citing public order and health and safety concerns.
The ban - which mirrors a 2019 police order that barred dog walking in the capital, Tehran - has been extended to at least 18 other cities in the past week. Transporting dogs in vehicles has also been outlawed."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0gngq4wjqo
Honestly, they're so stupid even the Department for Education must look down on them.0 -
Many Muslims see dogs as being unclean; they can only be kept for specific purposes, such as hunting or as guards.geoffw said:
Is there a thing about Islamists and dogs? I seem to recall that Hamas were terrified of dogs in the tunnelsbondegezou said:
They don’t want anyone to have dogs. (Cats are fine.)ydoethur said:
If you can't walk them and can't move them in vehicles, how are you supposed to get them about, even to have them put down (which is what the ayatollahs clearly want)? Hitch a trailer to a bicycle?Jim_Miller said:The real reason Israel struck, now: "Iranian officials have expanded a ban on dog walking to a swathe of cities across the country, citing public order and health and safety concerns.
The ban - which mirrors a 2019 police order that barred dog walking in the capital, Tehran - has been extended to at least 18 other cities in the past week. Transporting dogs in vehicles has also been outlawed."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0gngq4wjqo
Honestly, they're so stupid even the Department for Education must look down on them.
This can show up in a variety of ways: such as Iran's latest rulings, to Turkey, where dogs as pets are allowed, but stray dogs are rounded up and culled, whilst Turks famously love cats, and feed stray cats - who become known as 'communal cats'. My MiL used to feed dozens of stray cats every day.
(Note the many: as with many things to do with religion, opinions can vary, and some Muslim scholars apparently say dogs are fine.)1 -
I really, really hope he wears a military uniform to cap the black comedy effect.MattW said:
Trump's Birthday Parade is solely about Trump. I'd say a better comparison is this Idi Amin 4th Anniversary of the Coup parade in 1975. Though in Amin's case it is self-regarding fat man in a Jeep, not on a golf cart.bondegezou said:
Ours is a lot more pomp and circumstance. Trump’s line of tanks is more like N Korea’s and Russia’s.turbotubbs said:So some on X etc are comparing Trumps parade with North Korea, Russia etc. Good job we don’t go in for military processions in the capital.
As an aside, is anyone watching the trooping of the colour tomorrow?
IIUC, they are doing an entire circuit of the Mall.
Watch the clip for a minute, and it's quite a Ministry of Silly Walks. Each group of soldiers has their own style of perambulation. The baton man leading the kilted group seems to be rehearsing for the evening's dancing? (One for PBAi: Where do this formation's traditions come from ?).
https://youtu.be/7hAJH4e2hr4?t=44
Trump's parade involves 28 M1 Abrams tanks, 28 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 28 Stryker combat vehicles, four M-109 Paladin, 34 horses, 2 mules and 1 dog.2 -
rcs1000 said:
That makes sense: it explains why the (a) the gear wasn't retracted and (b) the flaps don't appear to have been fully extended. Basically: the pilot retracted the wrong thing, then compounded the error by continuing to pull back on the yoke when he should have pushed the nose down.Andy_JS said:Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE
The problem with that theory, is that, in the 787, the flaps and undercarriage have complete different types of controls, separated by a considerable distance.rcs1000 said:
That makes sense: it explains why the (a) the gear wasn't retracted and (b) the flaps don't appear to have been fully extended. Basically: the pilot retracted the wrong thing, then compounded the error by continuing to pull back on the yoke when he should have pushed the nose down.Andy_JS said:Captain Steeeve believes it might have been a mix-up between the gear and flaps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7EZkungFEE
If the RAT was down, that means that either both engines failed or the pilot dropped it deliberately.
The flight profile of the aircraft suggested little or no power. The 787 had lots of power - when both engines are working. There’s a video from an air show of a full power climb (rarely used) - the plane goes up like a rocket.
The aircraft was probably moderately loaded - the trip was no where near maximum range.0 -
Precisely Rochdale, you don't have a concern that we're not a single country anymore, you've just got a vested interest to declare.RochdalePioneers said:
My "ignorance". About imports. One of us has an EORI licence, the other does not.BartholomewRoberts said:.
Showing your ignorance there, special paperwork needed from Mainland to somewhere else is far from unique to NI.RochdalePioneers said:
The clue was that you needed to apply for a customs license and then submit export paperwork to send products from Birmingham to Ballymena.BartholomewRoberts said:
I must have missed the break up, when did that occur? Last I checked we're still de jure one country even if de facto devolved nations have different rules to each other.RochdalePioneers said:
Yep. Breaking up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to suit England was the obvious play for the Conservative and Unionist Party.BartholomewRoberts said:
Big deal.bondegezou said:
And a deal that didn’t place a border down the Irish Sea!BartholomewRoberts said:
By admitting he was right.Mexicanpete said:
I have zero time for Johnson, however with the information available to him at the time I think he didn't do too badly over lockdowns. The first was a week too late and I believe he got lucky with the reopening programme. Eat out to rekindle COVID was Sunak's brainwave not Johnson's. On the other hand, missing the COBRA meetings to write a book was unforgivable.rcs1000 said:
Brexit, Covid Vaccines, UkraineMexicanpete said:
Not during peak Covid he wasn't. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine? "He got all the big calls right" as I recallTaz said:
You’re absolutely right. Boris was loathed here by the vast majority.BartholomewRoberts said:
Again, hardly.Mexicanpete said:
With the exception of Brown and Blair, Starmer is without a shadow of a doubt the most despised PM on Politicalbetting.comFrancisUrquhart said:
Neville Chamberlain speaks.geoffw said:Starmer wants a "diplomatic solution"
I think Boris was probably our favourite.
Boris was despised on here. Can't think many who had him preferred at the time. HYUFD and myself, not many others. And even I was calling for his exit by the end.
If it were up to PB Tories, we'd have had Hunt instead.
FTFY.
I don't think many would argue he managed the lockdowns (and that absurd eat out lark) well.
Now Johnson and Brexit. Where do I start?
And that he got a very different deal to May without the backstop, something usual suspects here were adamantly insisting was impossible when I was opposing May's deal here.
What’s that? It *did*!?
Don't let the NI tail wag the English dog.
Having a bit of paperwork affecting NI is far superior to England being in the backstop.
Suiting England is absolutely a far superior play to subjugating it under an undemocratic backstop.
One country is being able to move about without restrictions. Needing a licence? Naah
China: Hong Kong and Macau versus the Mainland. Try telling Beijing its not one country though.
Finland: Mainland (in EU) versus Aland Islands (outside).
Denmark: Mainland versus Faroe Islands & Greenland
Norway: Mainland versus Svalbard.
Italy: Mainland versus Livigno
Spain: Mainland versus Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melita.
Portugal Mainland versus Azores and Madeira.
USA: Mainland versus Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
Also USA: Mainland versus Foreign Trade Zones which includes Houston, Charleston, Brunswick, San Juan, Suffolk County, Memphis, Newark, San Jose and more. Did Memphis, Tennessee secede from the USA?
India: Mainland versus Special Economic Zones too
Before the Boris deal the UK was a single customs zone. It is now two customs zones. Which is why Northern Ireland draws most of its foodstuffs from the Republic these days, as opposed to the Republic drawing most from the UK as it was in the bad old days.
Feel free to lecture me about my business some more. It's fun...
Yes, we have multiple customs zones. So frigging what?
So too do Finland, Denmark, Norway, Chiina, Norway, Italy, the USA, Spain and Portugal.
Are they all "not single countries" anymore too under your definition? Have they all "broken up"?
Or is your definition complete bullshit designed to suit your own vested interest.0 -
The YouTuber called "Asianometry" springs to mind. He is very good in the field.MattW said:Good morning, everyone.
We were discussing pseudonyms the other day. I think currently one of he few I know who is maintaining anonymity and not even appearing on his own videos whilst having become authoritative is Perun, the military analyst who makes his videos from Powerpoint presentations.
Are there others?
https://www.youtube.com/asianometry0
This discussion has been closed.