Israel's defence minister says Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, "can no longer be allowed to exist" after the Soroka hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack, according to local media and the AFP news agency.
Hang on, are the Israelis saying it is a bad thing to hit hospitals?
Hospitals that are actually civilian hospitals and not military bases, yes.
We tell the difference by where it is and who's bombing it, I suppose. Israel bombing one in enemy territory - military base. Enemy bombing one in Israel - proper hospital.
Oh and the command post in the tunnel under the hospital. Don't forget that bit.
Can you tell me how attacking Iran’s journalists degrades Iran’s nuclear capabilities?
Israel's defence minister says Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, "can no longer be allowed to exist" after the Soroka hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack, according to local media and the AFP news agency.
Hang on, are the Israelis saying it is a bad thing to hit hospitals?
Hospitals that are actually civilian hospitals and not military bases, yes.
I hope you've rejoined the Tories. Priti is well up for a US/ UK bunfight with Iran.
That doesn't surprise me. Can anybody say they are better at spelling since the advent of spellcheckers and autocorrect? I personally struggle to remember how to spell loads of words now.
My handwriting is terrible now that I hardly ever write anything and when I do it is on an iPad which is different to putting an actual pen to paper.
My bugbear is people who can no longer navigate without electronic aids.
I have a mate who insists on putting his sat-nav on everywhere he goes, including from his house to mine, which is about 15 minutes and has done loads of time. I did ask him once and he said I might forget....erh I am right next to you, I think I know I can probably help you out if you get lost.
I had been driving a mate to the same place - about 15 minutes away - weekly, for about 6 weeks. Then he drove, and insisted on satnavving it even though he'd done it as a passenger six times and I was right next to him. It took him a long detour at the end,which he insisted on following. He still insists on going that way, despite knowing from experience it takes 5 minutes longer, cos its what his satnav tells him. (He drives a Tesla and his faith in his Tesla is greater than his faith in his own experience.) He is also bafflingly ignorant of how to get home from about a mile away,despite having lived there for seven years.
Google Maps is pretty good but many of the in car ones, less so. Frequently if you know a shorter way and take it, the route time reduces, so the thing knows the correct timings but can't find the best route in the first place.
On the other hand, if you want to know where the speed cameras and camera vans are, a satnav is very useful, particularly so now that Google is sharing the customer entered data across Maps and Waze.
Our in car satnav's main weakness is a lack of knowledge about LTN restrictions. I was driving my in laws back from Heathrow yesterday and ran into some road closures around the Oval and tried to use the satnav to find a way round it - big mistake! It took me down a side road into a maze of residential streets and kept trying to make me drive through LTN restrictions. I'd have about £300 of fines if I'd followed its advice, and it took me ten minutes to find a way out of the maze.
Last night I opened one of those ominous TfL envelopes to find my wife had committed another infraction, doing an illegal right turn off Lee High Road (she seems to be the one who falls foul of LTN, school street and no turning restrictions, but I’m the one with multiple 20mph zone speeding penalties).
She was only there to pick up some table trestles she’d found on eBay for £20 (rrp £80), so they’ve ended up costing her £100.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
That doesn't surprise me. Can anybody say they are better at spelling since the advent of spellcheckers and autocorrect? I personally struggle to remember how to spell loads of words now.
My handwriting is terrible now that I hardly ever write anything and when I do it is on an iPad which is different to putting an actual pen to paper.
My bugbear is people who can no longer navigate without electronic aids.
I have a mate who insists on putting his sat-nav on everywhere he goes, including from his house to mine, which is about 15 minutes and has done loads of time. I did ask him once and he said I might forget....erh I am right next to you, I think I know I can probably help you out if you get lost.
I had been driving a mate to the same place - about 15 minutes away - weekly, for about 6 weeks. Then he drove, and insisted on satnavving it even though he'd done it as a passenger six times and I was right next to him. It took him a long detour at the end,which he insisted on following. He still insists on going that way, despite knowing from experience it takes 5 minutes longer, cos its what his satnav tells him. (He drives a Tesla and his faith in his Tesla is greater than his faith in his own experience.) He is also bafflingly ignorant of how to get home from about a mile away,despite having lived there for seven years.
Google Maps is pretty good but many of the in car ones, less so. Frequently if you know a shorter way and take it, the route time reduces, so the thing knows the correct timings but can't find the best route in the first place.
On the other hand, if you want to know where the speed cameras and camera vans are, a satnav is very useful, particularly so now that Google is sharing the customer entered data across Maps and Waze.
Our in car satnav's main weakness is a lack of knowledge about LTN restrictions. I was driving my in laws back from Heathrow yesterday and ran into some road closures around the Oval and tried to use the satnav to find a way round it - big mistake! It took me down a side road into a maze of residential streets and kept trying to make me drive through LTN restrictions. I'd have about £300 of fines if I'd followed its advice, and it took me ten minutes to find a way out of the maze.
Last night I opened one of those ominous TfL envelopes to find my wife had committed another infraction, doing an illegal right turn off Lee High Road (she seems to be the one who falls foul of LTN, school street and no turning restrictions, but I’m the one with multiple 20mph zone speeding penalties).
She was only there to pick up some table trestles she’d found on eBay for £20 (rrp £80), so they’ve ended up costing her £100.
Gross and repeated illegality requiring a custodial sentence surely?!
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
If you allow assisted dying it is inevitable that some people will be coerced or emotionally blackmailed into killing themselves, whatever safeguards are put in place. If you don't allow assisted dying, a far greater number of people will endure unnecessary pain and suffering. The reality is that there is a trade-off, and there are no easy answers. People can reasonably come to different views on it. It's an emotive topic for obvious reasons, and it's good we are having a thorough debate about it. Being of a greater good for the greater number kind of frame of mind, I am supportive.
Isn't it the same as the death penalty. A main argument against is that "even one innocent person killed...." is too much. That is exactly analagous to this - for all the undoubted good/relief/etc it might do are you happy that one "innocent" (ie coerced, felt pressured) person is killed.
One major difference is I think is about motivation.
The death penalty is, like "lock 'em up and throw away they key" and "whole life terms without possibility of parole" is about satisfying the psychological desires of those who want to impose it, with little consideration as to whether it works.
So your argument against is that because it doesn't stop the crimes that could result in the death penalty, it shouldn't be available? That's a reasonable stand point. I am also queezy about the one innocent amongst the deserving dead and we can all recall certain cases from history (not all of which, I think are that). However, part of the punishment should be about punishment. The killers of the Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, or Sarah Everard will never leave prison, but why should they be allowed decades more life? They took that from their victims.
I'm questioning the reliability and breadth of the comparison made.
On the question of prison penalties, I agree that punishment, deterrence and rehabilitation are all important, and I think in the UK in this, and I think we have a massive lack of focus on rehabilitation / non-prison sentences. IMO - as in many other questions - the pull of the USA setup is a real problem for us.
If anything, the USA is the poster child for "Prison Doesn't Work". They now have 1.8m in prison - third world numbers - and 50k imprisoned on LWOP sentences, with an average age of under 50. And they also have USA crime levels. I think the real underlying question there is over the entire USA model of society they have adopted.
(I've not tried to address the question of individual cases and the death penalty sentences itself, as that would need a very detailed response.)
Prison works in the sense of when you are locked up you are not committing crimes. Though yes that needs to be combined with effective community orders for lower level offenders and rehabilitation in prison for those who will come out
It is necessary for some but it doesn't work. More prisoners come out dehabilitated rather than rehabilated.
Which can be changed, see Norway's effective prison rehabilitation and work programme
If we are willing to invest in Scandi style public services and pay their tax rates then yes, more things will work. Is this something Kemi might pivot to?
It doesn't just need lots of public spending, North Carolina, Missouri and Texas have an effective prisons rehabilitation programme too. It is more ensuring prisoners, especially the lower level prisoners who will be more likely to be able to get a job on release, are given work training and education not just spending 90% of their prison day in their cells
There were 132,955 inmates in Texas prison facilities in April. Of the roughly 40,000 Texans released from state prisons every year, nearly half are rearrested within three years, and between 15-20% return to prison.
The majority not getting rearrested sounds positive, be curious to know how the 'nearly half' compares with other systems.
Seeing as many crimes have very low conviction and even arrest rates, nearly half doesnt sound at all positive to me, unless you own shares in one of the prison firms of course.
That's comparing apples and oranges. Many crimes have a very low conviction and arrest rates, however many criminals commit many crimes. Someone committing multiple crimes is more likely to be arrested.
Many criminals also have high recidivism rates. Recidivism of nearly 50% is bad if compared to if it is an average of 20% elsewhere, but is good compared to if it is an average of 80% elsewhere.
Eh ? The vote was carried to keep rates the same. Dinghra, Taylor and Ramsden got outvoted to reduce.
I wanted interest rates to go up.
I think this is because you are a net saver? If so, IANAFA but I would have thought, all other things being equal, you would be better off in a low-interest rate world in which you could invest in funds which would grow more, than a high interest rate world in which you could invest in savings accounts?
Surely that depends on your financial journey and where you are as well as risk tolerance.
Well yes, but I think Eagles is my age - i.e. he's about 50. Which, all being well, means he has a good few decades left - so no age to be putting everything in savings accounts? But as I say, IANAFA.
I have a diversified portfolio most in equities but Mr Trump keeps on scaring me.
Don't let him. Equities are, really, the only game in town. People get carried away with fancy new products, but equities are where it's at for retail investors and are pretty resilient. If you are an institution it's a different story but for normal punters it's equities.
MSCI World YTD:
They are resilient until major economic and political change, ask holders of Russian equities in 1917. Russian bonds had the same fate too. The global economy could be radically altered from that of our lifetime by any of tariffs, AI, global warming or war. Diversifaction beats any "only game in town".
Though we should say that in the case of a stock market disaster, we are all in a complete mess because it will also completely destroy our pensions. So if we get to that stage a lot of us will have much more to worry about.
Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, is understood to have raised concerns that assisting the US in attacking Iran would be against international law. The Spectator reported on Wednesday that he had suggested Britain limited its military response to protecting Israel.
Graham Stringer, the Labour MP for Blackley and Middleton South, told The Telegraph: “I think Hermer has shown that his legal advice is often flawed, and he seems to delight in giving advice which is not in this country’s interest.
Well said Stringer. Hermer, not for the first time, is a disgrace and not fit for office.
He talks about policies that sounds like they could be very controversial e.g. repeat Trump approach of deporting anybody here illegal, and will be hard to square the circle under more rigious media attacks, smaller state but bigger state.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
All the other headlines about heatwave are getting their knickers in a twist about it being 32oC...otherwise known as a normal summers day when you go on your summer hols.
Israel's defence minister says Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, "can no longer be allowed to exist" after the Soroka hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack, according to local media and the AFP news agency.
Hang on, are the Israelis saying it is a bad thing to hit hospitals?
Hospitals that are actually civilian hospitals and not military bases, yes.
We tell the difference by where it is and who's bombing it, I suppose. Israel bombing one in enemy territory - military base. Enemy bombing one in Israel - proper hospital.
No.
Hamas command and control structure under the hospital, where a bombing kills multiple Hamas leaders in that structure = military base.
Iran bombing a hospital that has no military ties = not a military base.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
47C!!!!
Jeez
Imagine the state of the sweat on the fat birds out clubbing in it. An ocean under every flap
Eh ? The vote was carried to keep rates the same. Dinghra, Taylor and Ramsden got outvoted to reduce.
I wanted interest rates to go up.
I think this is because you are a net saver? If so, IANAFA but I would have thought, all other things being equal, you would be better off in a low-interest rate world in which you could invest in funds which would grow more, than a high interest rate world in which you could invest in savings accounts?
Surely that depends on your financial journey and where you are as well as risk tolerance.
Well yes, but I think Eagles is my age - i.e. he's about 50. Which, all being well, means he has a good few decades left - so no age to be putting everything in savings accounts? But as I say, IANAFA.
I have a diversified portfolio most in equities but Mr Trump keeps on scaring me.
Don't let him. Equities are, really, the only game in town. People get carried away with fancy new products, but equities are where it's at for retail investors and are pretty resilient. If you are an institution it's a different story but for normal punters it's equities.
MSCI World YTD:
They are resilient until major economic and political change, ask holders of Russian equities in 1917. Russian bonds had the same fate too. The global economy could be radically altered from that of our lifetime by any of tariffs, AI, global warming or war. Diversifaction beats any "only game in town".
As the GFC taught us in extreme times everything is correlated. But in extreme times virtually nothing "works". But as we have seen with countless crises (COVID, Ukraine, tariffs) equities consistently bounce back.
Israel's defence minister says Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, "can no longer be allowed to exist" after the Soroka hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack, according to local media and the AFP news agency.
Hang on, are the Israelis saying it is a bad thing to hit hospitals?
Hospitals that are actually civilian hospitals and not military bases, yes.
We tell the difference by where it is and who's bombing it, I suppose. Israel bombing one in enemy territory - military base. Enemy bombing one in Israel - proper hospital.
Oh and the command post in the tunnel under the hospital. Don't forget that bit.
Can you tell me how attacking Iran’s journalists degrades Iran’s nuclear capabilities?
I have no idea if Israel is targeting Iran's journalists. Did a mullah tell you they were.
Ultimately this will pass i think, but people have many different reasons for supporting or opposing on wide societal or very personal terms - on the latter, as much as some will have had family members in pain who wished to have this which informs their perspective there will be others who have spent a single part or much of their lives fighting suicidal thoughts who feel horrified that the government and medical profession could ever support voluntarily ending your life. Basically its very very triggering. Ive tried to state that in as neutral terms as possible, but the concepts here go way beyond easing suffering and its the casting off of proposed safeguards that i am most upset by (im against it anyway)
I do think it will pass, but I genuinely hope we do not see champagne corks popping by those who support the bill
Assisted death may well be desired, but like the adverts for funeral plans it is not really a smiling and cheering matter
I absolutely would be cheering if this passes. Its something I've supported for 30 years, since I first debate euthanasia in the 1990s at school.
'Debate euthanasia' Schools and their innocence
I was in debate club in school and euthanasia was a major political issue in 1990s Melbourne as they were debating in Parliament whether to legalise it or not (they voted not to then). Should people not be debating topical issues in debate clubs in schools?
Should children be debating the State killing people? This house believes no, they should not
Of course they should, yes. Children should be learning about the issues facing the country and if it is a major issue being debated then yes of course they should.
Secondary school children are plenty old enough to be both learning about and debating serious issues.
Yeah, i dont agree.
Why not?
Why aren't secondary school age children old enough to be learning about or debating issues?
Isn't that the entire purpose of education? Especially in things like Debate Clubs.
I agree with Bart.
On holiday in italy, I shared a train compartment with an italian academic who has going to be on a judging panel for their national schools debating finals - debating in German!
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, is understood to have raised concerns that assisting the US in attacking Iran would be against international law. The Spectator reported on Wednesday that he had suggested Britain limited its military response to protecting Israel.
Graham Stringer, the Labour MP for Blackley and Middleton South, told The Telegraph: “I think Hermer has shown that his legal advice is often flawed, and he seems to delight in giving advice which is not in this country’s interest.
It's impressive how often Hermer's legal advice coincides with his personal views.
Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, is understood to have raised concerns that assisting the US in attacking Iran would be against international law. The Spectator reported on Wednesday that he had suggested Britain limited its military response to protecting Israel.
Graham Stringer, the Labour MP for Blackley and Middleton South, told The Telegraph: “I think Hermer has shown that his legal advice is often flawed, and he seems to delight in giving advice which is not in this country’s interest.
It's impressive how often Hermer's legal advice coincides with his personal views.
Israel's defence minister says Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, "can no longer be allowed to exist" after the Soroka hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack, according to local media and the AFP news agency.
Hang on, are the Israelis saying it is a bad thing to hit hospitals?
Hospitals that are actually civilian hospitals and not military bases, yes.
We tell the difference by where it is and who's bombing it, I suppose. Israel bombing one in enemy territory - military base. Enemy bombing one in Israel - proper hospital.
Oh and the command post in the tunnel under the hospital. Don't forget that bit.
Can you tell me how attacking Iran’s journalists degrades Iran’s nuclear capabilities?
I have no idea if Israel is targeting Iran's journalists. Did a mullah tell you they were.
He talks about policies that sounds like they could be very controversial e.g. repeat Trump approach of deporting anybody here illegal, and will be hard to square the circle under more rigious media attacks, smaller state but bigger state.
Why is it controversial to deport people who are here illegally? 90% of people would assume the only reason we don't do that is incompetence.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things Such a lot of pretty things, to wear. Hey there, pretty face, make the world a prettier place! Hey pretty face, come buy your clothes at... Richard Shops
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
The Met Office are looking for way to ensure their current organisation stays relevant in future. Most of their funding is predicated on the idea you need lots of experts and a giant supercomputer to produce even mediocre weather forecasts, but as with many other data analysis tasks it turns out just feeding the raw numbers into a correctly trained AI produces as good or better results.
It's also a lot cheaper and needs less bureaucrats and no shiny big supercomputers.
Israel's defence minister says Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, "can no longer be allowed to exist" after the Soroka hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack, according to local media and the AFP news agency.
Hang on, are the Israelis saying it is a bad thing to hit hospitals?
Hospitals that are actually civilian hospitals and not military bases, yes.
We tell the difference by where it is and who's bombing it, I suppose. Israel bombing one in enemy territory - military base. Enemy bombing one in Israel - proper hospital.
Oh and the command post in the tunnel under the hospital. Don't forget that bit.
Can you tell me how attacking Iran’s journalists degrades Iran’s nuclear capabilities?
I have no idea if Israel is targeting Iran's journalists. Did a mullah tell you they were.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
47?
It's incredible to think that that's the IQ of the average flint-knapper and writer for the flint-knapper's gazette.
I mean, 47 is *low*. Really low. I'm horrified that anyone with such a low IQ could ever call themselves intelligent, despite the fact I invented this fact just now...
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
39C was bad enough in July 2022.
I've been in mid 40s in the Sahara, rather nice because very dry, then dropped sub Saharan and wanted to die in mid thirties in Senegal in tropical sweat
Do the Shake and Vac, amd put the freshness back...
A Hazelnut in Every Bite - I remember!
A glass and a half of full cream milk in every bar (cadburys dairy milk)
A friend of mine changed their famous jingle song to "cup hands, here comes c*ntburys*
For some reason, we found this stupidly funny. We were 22 and mostly drunk or stoned all the time
*sighs nostalgically*
On a similar subject, my wife and I went through a phase of fitting jingles for *every* product to the tune of "Where in the World? PC World!" (e.g. Where are the pets? They're at Home!) We didn't even have the excuse of being drunk. Still amuses us periodically.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
47?
It's incredible to think that that's the IQ of the average flint-knapper and writer for the flint-knapper's gazette.
I mean, 47 is *low*. Really low. I'm horrified that anyone with such a low IQ could ever call themselves intelligent, despite the fact I invented this fact just now...
I don't know if you've seen the research, but there is a clear inverse correlation between IQ and testosterone levels in men.
Basically, the more testosterone you have, the stupider you are.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
47C!!!!
Jeez
Imagine the state of the sweat on the fat birds out clubbing in it. An ocean under every flap
As a student, I used to go to a heavy metal dive under a pub in Tufnell Park. Because of a low ceiling, they had attached carpet to it, so that people pogoing didn’t know themselves out.
In high summer, a combination of poor ventilation and a dense crowd meant that the carpet dripped condensation.
Israel's defence minister says Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, "can no longer be allowed to exist" after the Soroka hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack, according to local media and the AFP news agency.
Hang on, are the Israelis saying it is a bad thing to hit hospitals?
Hospitals that are actually civilian hospitals and not military bases, yes.
We tell the difference by where it is and who's bombing it, I suppose. Israel bombing one in enemy territory - military base. Enemy bombing one in Israel - proper hospital.
Oh and the command post in the tunnel under the hospital. Don't forget that bit.
Can you tell me how attacking Iran’s journalists degrades Iran’s nuclear capabilities?
I have no idea if Israel is targeting Iran's journalists. Did a mullah tell you they were.
Do the Shake and Vac, amd put the freshness back...
A Hazelnut in Every Bite - I remember!
A glass and a half of full cream milk in every bar (cadburys dairy milk)
A friend of mine changed their famous jingle song to "cup hands, here comes c*ntburys*
For some reason, we found this stupidly funny. We were 22 and mostly drunk or stoned all the time
*sighs nostalgically*
On a similar subject, my wife and I went through a phase of fitting jingles for *every* product to the tune of "Where in the World? PC World!" (e.g. Where are the pets? They're at Home!) We didn't even have the excuse of being drunk. Still amuses us periodically.
Its all good, I mean no-one is too grand for a Grandee
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
39C was bad enough in July 2022.
I've been in mid 40s in the Sahara, rather nice because very dry, then dropped sub Saharan and wanted to die in mid thirties in Senegal in tropical sweat
Its the humidity that is the killer* and particularly if it never really goes away at night.
* i don't mean actual killer, I mean draining. Obviously standing out in 45oC in Saudi Arabia for hours on end with no water probably going to end badly.
Do the Shake and Vac, amd put the freshness back...
A Hazelnut in Every Bite - I remember!
A glass and a half of full cream milk in every bar (cadburys dairy milk)
A friend of mine changed their famous jingle song to "cup hands, here comes c*ntburys*
For some reason, we found this stupidly funny. We were 22 and mostly drunk or stoned all the time
*sighs nostalgically*
On a similar subject, my wife and I went through a phase of fitting jingles for *every* product to the tune of "Where in the World? PC World!" (e.g. Where are the pets? They're at Home!) We didn't even have the excuse of being drunk. Still amuses us periodically.
I totally coincidentally bought a new fan for my office a few weeks ago. Its so powerful I haven't even got past level 1 of 3. Perhaps if it gets really bad at the weekend I might need to notch it up to level 2.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
39C was bad enough in July 2022.
I've been in mid 40s in the Sahara, rather nice because very dry, then dropped sub Saharan and wanted to die in mid thirties in Senegal in tropical sweat
We moan about the heat sometimes at work then our work colleagues who come from Delhi put things into perspective.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
47C!!!!
Jeez
Imagine the state of the sweat on the fat birds out clubbing in it. An ocean under every flap
As a student, I used to go to a heavy metal dive under a pub in Tufnell Park. Because of a low ceiling, they had attached carpet to it, so that people pogoing didn’t know themselves out.
In high summer, a combination of poor ventilation and a dense crowd meant that the carpet dripped condensation.
There were no fat birds in there…
Well if I don't die of the massive erection that imagery has given me i'll live forever
The Home Office said Julius Malema had been deemed "non-conducive to the public good" and that it was "undesirable" to grant him entry.
In a letter released by Malema's party, the Home Office cited his vocal support for Hamas, including a speech he made after the 7 October attacks in which he said his own party would arm the group if it came to power.
The UK said Malema had made "statements calling for the slaughter of white people or hinted that it could be an acceptable option in the future", and also cited this as a reason for rejecting his visa request.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
39C was bad enough in July 2022.
I've been in mid 40s in the Sahara, rather nice because very dry, then dropped sub Saharan and wanted to die in mid thirties in Senegal in tropical sweat
Its the humidity that is the killer* and particularly if it never really goes away at night.
* i don't mean actual killer, I mean draining. Obviously standing out in 45oC in Saudi Arabia for hours on end with no water probably going to end badly.
The final night (only) in Senegal i had access to aircon. Literally the happiest moment for years either side lol
Israel's defence minister says Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, "can no longer be allowed to exist" after the Soroka hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack, according to local media and the AFP news agency.
Hang on, are the Israelis saying it is a bad thing to hit hospitals?
Hospitals that are actually civilian hospitals and not military bases, yes.
We tell the difference by where it is and who's bombing it, I suppose. Israel bombing one in enemy territory - military base. Enemy bombing one in Israel - proper hospital.
Oh and the command post in the tunnel under the hospital. Don't forget that bit.
Can you tell me how attacking Iran’s journalists degrades Iran’s nuclear capabilities?
I have no idea if Israel is targeting Iran's journalists. Did a mullah tell you they were.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
39C was bad enough in July 2022.
I've been in mid 40s in the Sahara, rather nice because very dry, then dropped sub Saharan and wanted to die in mid thirties in Senegal in tropical sweat
Its the humidity that is the killer* and particularly if it never really goes away at night.
* i don't mean actual killer, I mean draining. Obviously standing out in 45oC in Saudi Arabia for hours on end with no water probably going to end badly.
I’ve been out in the mid 40s in Peru. The locals were all hiding from the sun. Someone literally did the egg on black tin thing.
Standing still in shade in shorts, T-shirt and flip flops was horrible. If you stepped into the sun, you could feel your life expectancy falling.
The army (special forces) was doing runs by the road in full kit. They believe that Ecuador will steal more land, if not watched. I think they killed a dozen soldiers doing the acclimatisation.
Do the Shake and Vac, amd put the freshness back...
A Hazelnut in Every Bite - I remember!
A glass and a half of full cream milk in every bar (cadburys dairy milk)
A friend of mine changed their famous jingle song to "cup hands, here comes c*ntburys*
For some reason, we found this stupidly funny. We were 22 and mostly drunk or stoned all the time
*sighs nostalgically*
On a similar subject, my wife and I went through a phase of fitting jingles for *every* product to the tune of "Where in the World? PC World!" (e.g. Where are the pets? They're at Home!) We didn't even have the excuse of being drunk. Still amuses us periodically.
Eh ? The vote was carried to keep rates the same. Dinghra, Taylor and Ramsden got outvoted to reduce.
I wanted interest rates to go up.
I think this is because you are a net saver? If so, IANAFA but I would have thought, all other things being equal, you would be better off in a low-interest rate world in which you could invest in funds which would grow more, than a high interest rate world in which you could invest in savings accounts?
Surely that depends on your financial journey and where you are as well as risk tolerance.
Well yes, but I think Eagles is my age - i.e. he's about 50. Which, all being well, means he has a good few decades left - so no age to be putting everything in savings accounts? But as I say, IANAFA.
I have a diversified portfolio most in equities but Mr Trump keeps on scaring me.
Don't let him. Equities are, really, the only game in town. People get carried away with fancy new products, but equities are where it's at for retail investors and are pretty resilient. If you are an institution it's a different story but for normal punters it's equities.
MSCI World YTD:
They are resilient until major economic and political change, ask holders of Russian equities in 1917. Russian bonds had the same fate too. The global economy could be radically altered from that of our lifetime by any of tariffs, AI, global warming or war. Diversifaction beats any "only game in town".
As the GFC taught us in extreme times everything is correlated. But in extreme times virtually nothing "works". But as we have seen with countless crises (COVID, Ukraine, tariffs) equities consistently bounce back.
Not true, again take Russia 1917 as an example. The Dutch in particular were heavily invested in Russia and lost out. Other countries had far less exposure.
It is not a sensible time to have a high US equity weighting. There has already been talk (and draft legislation) about charging foreign owners of US investments penalty taxes if their home governments upset the Don.
The Home Office said Julius Malema had been deemed "non-conducive to the public good" and that it was "undesirable" to grant him entry.
In a letter released by Malema's party, the Home Office cited his vocal support for Hamas, including a speech he made after the 7 October attacks in which he said his own party would arm the group if it came to power.
The UK said Malema had made "statements calling for the slaughter of white people or hinted that it could be an acceptable option in the future", and also cited this as a reason for rejecting his visa request.
This is the first time the UK government has acknowledged that anyone has been saying things like this, even though it's been on the record the whole time.
Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things Such a lot of pretty things, to wear. Hey there, pretty face, make the world a prettier place! Hey pretty face, come buy your clothes at... Richard Shops
Jeez, that's inane. For anyone else in pb's younger demographic (i.e. under 60) I have Googled this and it genuinely existed and was even more inane than Leon makes it sound.
I do vaguely remember the brand 'Richard Shops'. Even just the brand was inane.
In fact, you've motivated me to see if I can find where in my childhood it featured, and here it is, at the top right, in Stockport - a photo which proves that every photo of old Britain looks like you think Britain looked at least a decade previously. I used to go to that 'Sarah's' with my mum for a prawn open sandwich and a slice of Black Forest Gateau. This was 1985.
Do the Shake and Vac, amd put the freshness back...
A Hazelnut in Every Bite - I remember!
A glass and a half of full cream milk in every bar (cadburys dairy milk)
A friend of mine changed their famous jingle song to "cup hands, here comes c*ntburys*
For some reason, we found this stupidly funny. We were 22 and mostly drunk or stoned all the time
*sighs nostalgically*
On a similar subject, my wife and I went through a phase of fitting jingles for *every* product to the tune of "Where in the World? PC World!" (e.g. Where are the pets? They're at Home!) We didn't even have the excuse of being drunk. Still amuses us periodically.
I once did a 3 week roadtrip with my younger brother around the Western USA. It started off with us ghost-towning
For a magazine. But then it turned into a mad adventure where we decided where to go the next day the previous evening. This was before America was insanrly pricey and you could get OK motels off the freeway for about $30 a night. Superb fun
We share a sense of hunour and at one point we became fixated on a snack called "Beef E Beef", a branded cylinder of jerky
So every time we'd stop at a gas station one of us would get out and stride purposefully to the little shop and the other would call out "what you doing? What you getting?"
The other would then turn around and say, with a masculine nod, "Beef E Beef"
- cue hysterical laughter. Why? I do not know, but it worked
By the end you didn't even have to say the words "Beef E Beef" you just had to make the "I'm buying beef e beef" face, and the other would crack up
This went on for three weeks
Even now we occasionally reference it in our communications, and snort with laughter. AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY, but it is good
Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things Such a lot of pretty things, to wear. Hey there, pretty face, make the world a prettier place! Hey pretty face, come buy your clothes at... Richard Shops
Jeez, that's inane. For anyone else in pb's younger demographic (i.e. under 60) I have Googled this and it genuinely existed and was even more inane than Leon makes it sound.
I do vaguely remember the brand 'Richard Shops'. Even just the brand was inane.
In fact, you've motivated me to see if I can find where in my childhood it featured, and here it is, at the top right, in Stockport - a photo which proves that every photo of old Britain looks like you think Britain looked at least a decade previously. I used to go to that 'Sarah's' with my mum for a prawn open sandwich and a slice of Black Forest Gateau. This was 1985.
In the East we had the immortal.... Mexico City? New York City? London City? NOOOOOO Its Carpet City!
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
39C was bad enough in July 2022.
I've been in mid 40s in the Sahara, rather nice because very dry, then dropped sub Saharan and wanted to die in mid thirties in Senegal in tropical sweat
We moan about the heat sometimes at work then our work colleagues who come from Delhi put things into perspective.
Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things Such a lot of pretty things, to wear. Hey there, pretty face, make the world a prettier place! Hey pretty face, come buy your clothes at... Richard Shops
Jeez, that's inane. For anyone else in pb's younger demographic (i.e. under 60) I have Googled this and it genuinely existed and was even more inane than Leon makes it sound.
I do vaguely remember the brand 'Richard Shops'. Even just the brand was inane.
In fact, you've motivated me to see if I can find where in my childhood it featured, and here it is, at the top right, in Stockport - a photo which proves that every photo of old Britain looks like you think Britain looked at least a decade previously. I used to go to that 'Sarah's' with my mum for a prawn open sandwich and a slice of Black Forest Gateau. This was 1985.
Actually, I object to this
IT was a genuinely good-ish song. I'm not kidding. It was so good they turned it into an ACTUAL song, by Paul Young
Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things Such a lot of pretty things, to wear. Hey there, pretty face, make the world a prettier place! Hey pretty face, come buy your clothes at... Richard Shops
Jeez, that's inane. For anyone else in pb's younger demographic (i.e. under 60) I have Googled this and it genuinely existed and was even more inane than Leon makes it sound.
I do vaguely remember the brand 'Richard Shops'. Even just the brand was inane.
In fact, you've motivated me to see if I can find where in my childhood it featured, and here it is, at the top right, in Stockport - a photo which proves that every photo of old Britain looks like you think Britain looked at least a decade previously. I used to go to that 'Sarah's' with my mum for a prawn open sandwich and a slice of Black Forest Gateau. This was 1985.
In the East we had the immortal.... Mexico City? New York City? London City? NOOOOOO Its Carpet City!
And Bride On A Budget in Wymondham advertising with photos including the 'Dallas Collection' replete with outfits modelled by Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) and (I think) Kristin Shepherd who shot JR
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
39C was bad enough in July 2022.
I've been in mid 40s in the Sahara, rather nice because very dry, then dropped sub Saharan and wanted to die in mid thirties in Senegal in tropical sweat
We moan about the heat sometimes at work then our work colleagues who come from Delhi put things into perspective.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
47?
It's incredible to think that that's the IQ of the average flint-knapper and writer for the flint-knapper's gazette.
I mean, 47 is *low*. Really low. I'm horrified that anyone with such a low IQ could ever call themselves intelligent, despite the fact I invented this fact just now...
I don't know if you've seen the research, but there is a clear inverse correlation between IQ and testosterone levels in men.
Basically, the more testosterone you have, the stupider you are.
I've also heard there's an inverse correlation between IQ and hairiness. And since I'm afraid to go to Africa lest a big-game hunter mistakes me for a gorilla, my IQ must be lower than even a flint-knapper's...
I totally coincidentally bought a new fan for my office a few weeks ago. Its so powerful I haven't even got past level 1 of 3. Perhaps if it gets really bad at the weekend I might need to notch it up to level 2.
When I did the loft conversion on my house I gathered the following data.
- no one in the area had used heating in their lofts in years. - heat rising, etc, meant that even with the best insulation, temperatures soared in the loft conversions.
So installed air source air temperature control units. Air conditioning that can run both ways - heats and cools.
We put in stubs for radiators, but didn’t install them in the end.
In the 2 years since - used the heating function twice. The air con runs in summer, but is more than balanced on the electricity bills by the solar panels.
Because the units are capable of heating, they are classed as electrical heating and are VAT free. IIRC in heating mode, they get something like 6-to-1 efficiency.
Israel's ground incursions into SW #Syria escalated sharply this past week -- with 18 in 7 days.
They've also turned more aggressive: detaining men & removing them to #Israel; demolishing homes; shuttering roads & razing forests.
Popular frustration & anger is rising...
For 6 months -- faced by 800+ #Israel airstrikes & 250+ ground incursions -- #Syria's transition gov't has resorted *only* to UN Security Council complaints & the occasional public statement.
There has already been talk (and draft legislation) about charging foreign owners of US investments penalty taxes if their home governments upset the Don.
Diversification costs a tiny fraction more for significantly more resilience.
If that's the risk there's not much danger with Starmer or Farage tbh. I'm global/tech atm but my future buys are european equities for the moment.
Is China undervalued though ? They are producing and consuming significantly more leccy than the USA which should, ceteris paribus, correlate to economic strength.
Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things Such a lot of pretty things, to wear. Hey there, pretty face, make the world a prettier place! Hey pretty face, come buy your clothes at... Richard Shops
Jeez, that's inane. For anyone else in pb's younger demographic (i.e. under 60) I have Googled this and it genuinely existed and was even more inane than Leon makes it sound.
I do vaguely remember the brand 'Richard Shops'. Even just the brand was inane.
In fact, you've motivated me to see if I can find where in my childhood it featured, and here it is, at the top right, in Stockport - a photo which proves that every photo of old Britain looks like you think Britain looked at least a decade previously. I used to go to that 'Sarah's' with my mum for a prawn open sandwich and a slice of Black Forest Gateau. This was 1985.
It reminds me of the old Whitgift Centre in Croydon and its Rotunda pub accessed not by an escalator but a travelator. Said Centre also had a superb Chinese restaurant.
Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things Such a lot of pretty things, to wear. Hey there, pretty face, make the world a prettier place! Hey pretty face, come buy your clothes at... Richard Shops
Jeez, that's inane. For anyone else in pb's younger demographic (i.e. under 60) I have Googled this and it genuinely existed and was even more inane than Leon makes it sound.
I do vaguely remember the brand 'Richard Shops'. Even just the brand was inane.
In fact, you've motivated me to see if I can find where in my childhood it featured, and here it is, at the top right, in Stockport - a photo which proves that every photo of old Britain looks like you think Britain looked at least a decade previously. I used to go to that 'Sarah's' with my mum for a prawn open sandwich and a slice of Black Forest Gateau. This was 1985.
Actually, I object to this
IT was a genuinely good-ish song. I'm not kidding. It was so good they turned it into an ACTUAL song, by Paul Young
There has already been talk (and draft legislation) about charging foreign owners of US investments penalty taxes if their home governments upset the Don.
Diversification costs a tiny fraction more for significantly more resilience.
If that's the risk there's not much danger with Starmer or Farage tbh.
Countries with a digital service tax specifically mentioned.
Eh ? The vote was carried to keep rates the same. Dinghra, Taylor and Ramsden got outvoted to reduce.
I wanted interest rates to go up.
I think this is because you are a net saver? If so, IANAFA but I would have thought, all other things being equal, you would be better off in a low-interest rate world in which you could invest in funds which would grow more, than a high interest rate world in which you could invest in savings accounts?
Surely that depends on your financial journey and where you are as well as risk tolerance.
Well yes, but I think Eagles is my age - i.e. he's about 50. Which, all being well, means he has a good few decades left - so no age to be putting everything in savings accounts? But as I say, IANAFA.
I have a diversified portfolio most in equities but Mr Trump keeps on scaring me.
Don't let him. Equities are, really, the only game in town. People get carried away with fancy new products, but equities are where it's at for retail investors and are pretty resilient. If you are an institution it's a different story but for normal punters it's equities.
MSCI World YTD:
They are resilient until major economic and political change, ask holders of Russian equities in 1917. Russian bonds had the same fate too. The global economy could be radically altered from that of our lifetime by any of tariffs, AI, global warming or war. Diversifaction beats any "only game in town".
As the GFC taught us in extreme times everything is correlated. But in extreme times virtually nothing "works". But as we have seen with countless crises (COVID, Ukraine, tariffs) equities consistently bounce back.
Not true, again take Russia 1917 as an example. The Dutch in particular were heavily invested in Russia and lost out. Other countries had far less exposure.
It is not a sensible time to have a high US equity weighting. There has already been talk (and draft legislation) about charging foreign owners of US investments penalty taxes if their home governments upset the Don.
Diversification costs a tiny fraction more for significantly more resilience.
The French lost most with the Russian Revolution, IIRC. Their investment in Russia was massive - it was the China Tiger of handy. Invest in a factory and get double digit returns that just grew.
People collected lots of Imperial Russian Bonds - very elaborately decorated. At the end of the Cold War, the new Russian Government redeemed them at face value
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
39C was bad enough in July 2022.
I've been in mid 40s in the Sahara, rather nice because very dry, then dropped sub Saharan and wanted to die in mid thirties in Senegal in tropical sweat
The dry-bulb temperature is vanity, but the wet-bulb temperature is (potentially) deadly.
Highest wet-bulb temperature forecast is 20C in West Wales on Saturday.
Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things Such a lot of pretty things, to wear. Hey there, pretty face, make the world a prettier place! Hey pretty face, come buy your clothes at... Richard Shops
Jeez, that's inane. For anyone else in pb's younger demographic (i.e. under 60) I have Googled this and it genuinely existed and was even more inane than Leon makes it sound.
I do vaguely remember the brand 'Richard Shops'. Even just the brand was inane.
In fact, you've motivated me to see if I can find where in my childhood it featured, and here it is, at the top right, in Stockport - a photo which proves that every photo of old Britain looks like you think Britain looked at least a decade previously. I used to go to that 'Sarah's' with my mum for a prawn open sandwich and a slice of Black Forest Gateau. This was 1985.
Actually, I object to this
IT was a genuinely good-ish song. I'm not kidding. It was so good they turned it into an ACTUAL song, by Paul Young
Yeah. I'm not saying this is Lennon & McCartney or even Stock Aitken Watermen - but its journeymen like this that made up the charts, and sometimes they did OK
"I'd like to teach the world to sing" is a genuinely famous song, and really pretty good, albeit not Mozart's Requiem
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
47C!!!!
Jeez
I’m currently in Phoenix where the high today is 46C. It’s not so bad in the shade!
Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things Such a lot of pretty things, to wear. Hey there, pretty face, make the world a prettier place! Hey pretty face, come buy your clothes at... Richard Shops
Jeez, that's inane. For anyone else in pb's younger demographic (i.e. under 60) I have Googled this and it genuinely existed and was even more inane than Leon makes it sound.
I do vaguely remember the brand 'Richard Shops'. Even just the brand was inane.
In fact, you've motivated me to see if I can find where in my childhood it featured, and here it is, at the top right, in Stockport - a photo which proves that every photo of old Britain looks like you think Britain looked at least a decade previously. I used to go to that 'Sarah's' with my mum for a prawn open sandwich and a slice of Black Forest Gateau. This was 1985.
It reminds me of the old Whitgift Centre in Croydon and its Rotunda pub accessed not by an escalator but a travelator. Said Centre also had a superb Chinese restaurant.
There was a travelator here, too! The Merseyway centre (i.e. the picture) was built on stilts over the River Mersey. It was actually a not-terrible piece of modernism - there are periodic demands to open up the river but I don't imagine what was there before it was built was all that lovely.
Well the plots always seem to revolve around the baddies being some dodgy rich white men running front companies that only exist because of their politician connections....is Hunter looking for a new job?
If you allow assisted dying it is inevitable that some people will be coerced or emotionally blackmailed into killing themselves, whatever safeguards are put in place. If you don't allow assisted dying, a far greater number of people will endure unnecessary pain and suffering. The reality is that there is a trade-off, and there are no easy answers. People can reasonably come to different views on it. It's an emotive topic for obvious reasons, and it's good we are having a thorough debate about it. Being of a greater good for the greater number kind of frame of mind, I am supportive.
Isn't it the same as the death penalty. A main argument against is that "even one innocent person killed...." is too much. That is exactly analagous to this - for all the undoubted good/relief/etc it might do are you happy that one "innocent" (ie coerced, felt pressured) person is killed.
One major difference is I think is about motivation.
The death penalty is, like "lock 'em up and throw away they key" and "whole life terms without possibility of parole" is about satisfying the psychological desires of those who want to impose it, with little consideration as to whether it works.
So your argument against is that because it doesn't stop the crimes that could result in the death penalty, it shouldn't be available? That's a reasonable stand point. I am also queezy about the one innocent amongst the deserving dead and we can all recall certain cases from history (not all of which, I think are that). However, part of the punishment should be about punishment. The killers of the Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry, or Sarah Everard will never leave prison, but why should they be allowed decades more life? They took that from their victims.
I'm questioning the reliability and breadth of the comparison made.
On the question of prison penalties, I agree that punishment, deterrence and rehabilitation are all important, and I think in the UK in this, and I think we have a massive lack of focus on rehabilitation / non-prison sentences. IMO - as in many other questions - the pull of the USA setup is a real problem for us.
If anything, the USA is the poster child for "Prison Doesn't Work". They now have 1.8m in prison - third world numbers - and 50k imprisoned on LWOP sentences, with an average age of under 50. And they also have USA crime levels. I think the real underlying question there is over the entire USA model of society they have adopted.
(I've not tried to address the question of individual cases and the death penalty sentences itself, as that would need a very detailed response.)
Prison works in the sense of when you are locked up you are not committing crimes. Though yes that needs to be combined with effective community orders for lower level offenders and rehabilitation in prison for those who will come out
It is necessary for some but it doesn't work. More prisoners come out dehabilitated rather than rehabilated.
Which can be changed, see Norway's effective prison rehabilitation and work programme
If we are willing to invest in Scandi style public services and pay their tax rates then yes, more things will work. Is this something Kemi might pivot to?
It doesn't just need lots of public spending, North Carolina, Missouri and Texas have an effective prisons rehabilitation programme too. It is more ensuring prisoners, especially the lower level prisoners who will be more likely to be able to get a job on release, are given work training and education not just spending 90% of their prison day in their cells
There were 132,955 inmates in Texas prison facilities in April. Of the roughly 40,000 Texans released from state prisons every year, nearly half are rearrested within three years, and between 15-20% return to prison.
15-20% returning to prison is pretty good.
The best global nations for low recidivism though are Singapore and Norway, the former very low spend, the latter very high spend as a percentage of gdp. So it is not just about spending but quality of the punishment and vocational training schemes in prison https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047235223000867
On topic, I think it is really important to recognize the strains the NHS is under, and will continue to be under. AD is cheap. And once someone has ... errrr ... ADed, then they are no longer a burden on the taxpayer through either the pension, care, or health service.
Yes: we do need safeguards.
But wouldn't it be simplest to just copy the Swiss system, lock, stock and barrel?
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
47C!!!!
Jeez
I’m currently in Phoenix where the high today is 46C. It’s not so bad in the shade!
You and I have swapped places - I'm in London
Get a Waymo while you're there, you won't regret it. (Probably. There have been some high profile examples of Waymos getting "stuck".)
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
47?
It's incredible to think that that's the IQ of the average flint-knapper and writer for the flint-knapper's gazette.
I mean, 47 is *low*. Really low. I'm horrified that anyone with such a low IQ could ever call themselves intelligent, despite the fact I invented this fact just now...
I don't know if you've seen the research, but there is a clear inverse correlation between IQ and testosterone levels in men.
Basically, the more testosterone you have, the stupider you are.
Those with the most testosterone tend to get the most girls though and often earn the most money, even if those with the highest IQ tend to have more establishment and professional careers
On topic, I think it is really important to recognize the strains the NHS is under, and will continue to be under. AD is cheap. And once someone has ... errrr ... ADed, then they are no longer a burden on the taxpayer through either the pension, care, or health service.
Yes: we do need safeguards.
But wouldn't it be simplest to just copy the Swiss system, lock, stock and barrel?
Someone in Ireland has won £208 million but they don't seem to realise.
"A EuroMillions player has become £208million richer after winning Tuesday night's record-breaking jackpot, but still has yet to claim the staggering nine-figure prize. The winning ticket, purchased at a shop in Ireland's Munster provice, matched all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars to secure the largest jackpot in the game's history. The Irish National Lottery confirmed the location of the winning ticket on Wednesday, revealing online that the life-changing ticket was sold in Munster. But lottery officials have said that by Thursday morning, the winner had still not come forward to claim their fortune."
Someone in Ireland has won £208 million but they don't seem to realise.
"A EuroMillions player has become £208million richer after winning Tuesday night's record-breaking jackpot, but still has yet to claim the staggering nine-figure prize. The winning ticket, purchased at a shop in Ireland's Munster provice, matched all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars to secure the largest jackpot in the game's history. The Irish National Lottery confirmed the location of the winning ticket on Wednesday, revealing online that the life-changing ticket was sold in Munster. But lottery officials have said that by Thursday morning, the winner had still not come forward to claim their fortune."
Not that I play the lottery, but there is absolutely no way I am going public if I won it.
You don't want to win that much as a normal person, its just means a huge spotlight is on you forever. Its like being the front man of a big band. You want to win the £5-10million, because nobody will remember or really care but plenty of money to do what you want in life, bit like being the drummer of a big band.
On topic, I think it is really important to recognize the strains the NHS is under, and will continue to be under. AD is cheap. And once someone has ... errrr ... ADed, then they are no longer a burden on the taxpayer through either the pension, care, or health service.
Yes: we do need safeguards.
But wouldn't it be simplest to just copy the Swiss system, lock, stock and barrel?
We could just send them there. Or Rwanda.
The comfortably off do go to Switzerland today and make use of Dignitas. So AD is available today to those with money.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
If global warming continues, summer holidays in Iceland, Sweden, Scotland and Alaska to become more popular?
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
47C!!!!
Jeez
I’m currently in Phoenix where the high today is 46C. It’s not so bad in the shade!
You and I have swapped places - I'm in London
Get a Waymo while you're there, you won't regret it. (Probably. There have been some high profile examples of Waymos getting "stuck".)
I’ve done it a couple of times before when I was here last, it’s quite something.
Someone in Ireland has won £208 million but they don't seem to realise.
"A EuroMillions player has become £208million richer after winning Tuesday night's record-breaking jackpot, but still has yet to claim the staggering nine-figure prize. The winning ticket, purchased at a shop in Ireland's Munster provice, matched all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars to secure the largest jackpot in the game's history. The Irish National Lottery confirmed the location of the winning ticket on Wednesday, revealing online that the life-changing ticket was sold in Munster. But lottery officials have said that by Thursday morning, the winner had still not come forward to claim their fortune."
Someone in Ireland has won £208 million but they don't seem to realise.
"A EuroMillions player has become £208million richer after winning Tuesday night's record-breaking jackpot, but still has yet to claim the staggering nine-figure prize. The winning ticket, purchased at a shop in Ireland's Munster provice, matched all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars to secure the largest jackpot in the game's history. The Irish National Lottery confirmed the location of the winning ticket on Wednesday, revealing online that the life-changing ticket was sold in Munster. But lottery officials have said that by Thursday morning, the winner had still not come forward to claim their fortune."
Winner has now come forward and the winning ticket was sold in my county, Cork. Odds of being distantly related (through marriage) to the winner increasing...
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
If global warming continues, summer holidays in Iceland, Sweden, Scotland and Alaska to become more popular?
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
47C!!!!
Jeez
I’m currently in Phoenix where the high today is 46C. It’s not so bad in the shade!
You and I have swapped places - I'm in London
Get a Waymo while you're there, you won't regret it. (Probably. There have been some high profile examples of Waymos getting "stuck".)
People are missing the biggest threat from driverless taxis - the loss of the taxi driver anecdote. If that crucial link between the common people and the political elite isn't there anymore, it will have literally untold consequences.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
47C!!!!
Jeez
I’m currently in Phoenix where the high today is 46C. It’s not so bad in the shade!
You and I have swapped places - I'm in London
Get a Waymo while you're there, you won't regret it. (Probably. There have been some high profile examples of Waymos getting "stuck".)
People are missing the biggest threat from driverless taxis - the loss of the taxi driver anecdote. If that crucial link between the common people and the political elite isn't there anymore, it will have literally untold consequences.
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
If global warming continues, summer holidays in Iceland, Sweden, Scotland and Alaska to become more popular?
Looks like on that report more tourists going to Ireland and Norway in the summer and if they go to Spain and Greece doing so in spring and autumn rather than peak season
Are they seriously suggesting 47C in Central London??????
Like, WTAF
Possibly sometime in the next 12 years....according to Met Office models....who would like even more funding for even bigger computers for climate modelling.
No, they* are suggesting we will see that in the next few weeks. A literal and scienticic prediction that London will hit 47C or even higher - THIS SUMMER
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
I'm too scared to link; also linking would be clearly impossible. Nonetheless and despite the fact I invented this prediction just now, simply to entertain myself, and it has absolutely no basis in reality, because I made it all up, I'm still horrified
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
If global warming continues, summer holidays in Iceland, Sweden, Scotland and Alaska to become more popular?
Looks like on that report more tourists going to Ireland and Norway in the summer and if they go Spain and Greece doing so in spring and autumn rather than peak season
I am meant to be in Provence in July. A friend is lending me all his exquisite house, for free, for ten days, to do some knapping
It's absolutely stunning. And yet, I find myself hesitant, because of the heat. Last summer it was regularly over 40C..
Hmm
It doesn't help that my friend refuses to install AC as he says it will "ruin the aesthetics". Which is true, but eeeek
Comments
She was only there to pick up some table trestles she’d found on eBay for £20 (rrp £80), so they’ve ended up costing her £100.
For some reason, we found this stupidly funny. We were 22 and mostly drunk or stoned all the time
*sighs nostalgically*
(Then you're a fat bastard)
This is pretty calamitous
*The only consolation, as we look at these desolating predictions, is that I have entirely made this up, for no good reason at all. Apart from being very slightly bored. But still, despite the total non-existence of any such prediction, this is ominous
47C!!!!
Jeez
Many criminals also have high recidivism rates. Recidivism of nearly 50% is bad if compared to if it is an average of 20% elsewhere, but is good compared to if it is an average of 80% elsewhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weIVxjKmAVg
He talks about policies that sounds like they could be very controversial e.g. repeat Trump approach of deporting anybody here illegal, and will be hard to square the circle under more rigious media attacks, smaller state but bigger state.
The only link I have seen is media spinning an academic paper for clicks.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/met-office-weather-45c-month-long-heatwaves-b1233569.html
All the other headlines about heatwave are getting their knickers in a twist about it being 32oC...otherwise known as a normal summers day when you go on your summer hols.
Hamas command and control structure under the hospital, where a bombing kills multiple Hamas leaders in that structure = military base.
Iran bombing a hospital that has no military ties = not a military base.
An ocean under every flap
I can still remember, literally - indeed I can say it out loud, right now, in my flat, where I sit sweating in my pants at my laptop (sorry)
"Lipsmacking, thirst quenching, ace tasting, motivating, cool buzzing, high talking, fast living, ever giving, cool fizzing...Pepsi!"
GDP of the Congo now ruined by Political Correctness
Is it white, or grey, or silver, or all three...
47C??!
That's.... incredible. This will be bad
Before we all become puritanical pussies
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w46pw2xn0o
Tomorrow I shall be unbearable again. If not after this coffee
Such a lot of pretty things, to wear.
Hey there, pretty face, make the world a prettier place!
Hey pretty face, come buy your clothes at... Richard Shops
It's also a lot cheaper and needs less bureaucrats and no shiny big supercomputers.
We bombed Nazi radio broadcasts in WWII.
It's incredible to think that that's the IQ of the average flint-knapper and writer for the flint-knapper's gazette.
I mean, 47 is *low*. Really low. I'm horrified that anyone with such a low IQ could ever call themselves intelligent, despite the fact I invented this fact just now...
We didn't even have the excuse of being drunk. Still amuses us periodically.
Basically, the more testosterone you have, the stupider you are.
In high summer, a combination of poor ventilation and a dense crowd meant that the carpet dripped condensation.
There were no fat birds in there…
* i don't mean actual killer, I mean draining. Obviously standing out in 45oC in Saudi Arabia for hours on end with no water probably going to end badly.
In a letter released by Malema's party, the Home Office cited his vocal support for Hamas, including a speech he made after the 7 October attacks in which he said his own party would arm the group if it came to power.
The UK said Malema had made "statements calling for the slaughter of white people or hinted that it could be an acceptable option in the future", and also cited this as a reason for rejecting his visa request.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpd1qyydg12o
Must be a regional custom
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpd1qnq87jxo
Standing still in shade in shorts, T-shirt and flip flops was horrible. If you stepped into the sun, you could feel your life expectancy falling.
The army (special forces) was doing runs by the road in full kit. They believe that Ecuador will steal more land, if not watched. I think they killed a dozen soldiers doing the acclimatisation.
It is not a sensible time to have a high US equity weighting. There has already been talk (and draft legislation) about charging foreign owners of US investments penalty taxes if their home governments upset the Don.
https://www.hermes-investment.com/uk/en/institutions/insights/macro/credit-investors-threatened-with-tax-hike-on-us-income/
Diversification costs a tiny fraction more for significantly more resilience.
I do vaguely remember the brand 'Richard Shops'. Even just the brand was inane.
In fact, you've motivated me to see if I can find where in my childhood it featured, and here it is, at the top right, in Stockport - a photo which proves that every photo of old Britain looks like you think Britain looked at least a decade previously. I used to go to that 'Sarah's' with my mum for a prawn open sandwich and a slice of Black Forest Gateau. This was 1985.
https://eu.fosters.com/story/lifestyle/2008/07/16/ghost-towning-one-way-to/52335107007/
For a magazine. But then it turned into a mad adventure where we decided where to go the next day the previous evening. This was before America was insanrly pricey and you could get OK motels off the freeway for about $30 a night. Superb fun
We share a sense of hunour and at one point we became fixated on a snack called "Beef E Beef", a branded cylinder of jerky
https://www.instacart.com/products/16977014-tillamook-country-smoker-natural-wood-smoked-beef-e-beef-beef-stick-1-44-oz
So every time we'd stop at a gas station one of us would get out and stride purposefully to the little shop and the other would call out "what you doing? What you getting?"
The other would then turn around and say, with a masculine nod, "Beef E Beef"
- cue hysterical laughter. Why? I do not know, but it worked
By the end you didn't even have to say the words "Beef E Beef" you just had to make the "I'm buying beef e beef" face, and the other would crack up
This went on for three weeks
Even now we occasionally reference it in our communications, and snort with laughter. AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHY, but it is good
Mexico City?
New York City?
London City?
NOOOOOO Its Carpet City!
IT was a genuinely good-ish song. I'm not kidding. It was so good they turned it into an ACTUAL song, by Paul Young
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io-RouRFfxI
The jingle was written by two of the most successful and prolific songwriters of the 60s-70s, so it makes sense
- no one in the area had used heating in their lofts in years.
- heat rising, etc, meant that even with the best insulation, temperatures soared in the loft conversions.
So installed air source air temperature control units. Air conditioning that can run both ways - heats and cools.
We put in stubs for radiators, but didn’t install them in the end.
In the 2 years since - used the heating function twice. The air con runs in summer, but is more than balanced on the electricity bills by the solar panels.
Because the units are capable of heating, they are classed as electrical heating and are VAT free. IIRC in heating mode, they get something like 6-to-1 efficiency.
They've also turned more aggressive: detaining men & removing them to #Israel; demolishing homes; shuttering roads & razing forests.
Popular frustration & anger is rising...
For 6 months -- faced by 800+ #Israel airstrikes & 250+ ground incursions -- #Syria's transition gov't has resorted *only* to UN Security Council complaints & the occasional public statement.
That's smart & pragmatic, but for locals, it's an increasing source of frustration...
https://x.com/Charles_Lister/status/1935425561935093842
Is China undervalued though ? They are producing and consuming significantly more leccy than the USA which should, ceteris paribus, correlate to economic strength.
Though I've looked up the fellas concerned (I think?) and while their output is prolific, I'd argue inanity is something of a feature. Though clearly they know what the public want...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_written_by_Roger_Cook_and_Roger_Greenaway
People collected lots of Imperial Russian Bonds - very elaborately decorated. At the end of the Cold War, the new Russian Government redeemed them at face value
Highest wet-bulb temperature forecast is 20C in West Wales on Saturday.
Wear a hat and drink some water.
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/joe-biden-reacher-season-4-visit-set-1236433884/
"I'd like to teach the world to sing" is a genuinely famous song, and really pretty good, albeit not Mozart's Requiem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlR0KElxxVg
The best global nations for low recidivism though are Singapore and Norway, the former very low spend, the latter very high spend as a percentage of gdp. So it is not just about spending but quality of the punishment and vocational training schemes in prison
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047235223000867
The mind behind cricket's Hundred on his (rugby) 'Prem' relaunch
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cly2zplnn1ko
Yes: we do need safeguards.
But wouldn't it be simplest to just copy the Swiss system, lock, stock and barrel?
Get a Waymo while you're there, you won't regret it. (Probably. There have been some high profile examples of Waymos getting "stuck".)
"A EuroMillions player has become £208million richer after winning Tuesday night's record-breaking jackpot, but still has yet to claim the staggering nine-figure prize. The winning ticket, purchased at a shop in Ireland's Munster provice, matched all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars to secure the largest jackpot in the game's history. The Irish National Lottery confirmed the location of the winning ticket on Wednesday, revealing online that the life-changing ticket was sold in Munster. But lottery officials have said that by Thursday morning, the winner had still not come forward to claim their fortune."
https://www.gbnews.com/news/euromillions-jackpot-prize-unclaimed-national-lottery-ticket
You don't want to win that much as a normal person, its just means a huge spotlight is on you forever. Its like being the front man of a big band. You want to win the £5-10million, because nobody will remember or really care but plenty of money to do what you want in life, bit like being the drummer of a big band.
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0619/1519332-euromillions/
Winner has now come forward and the winning ticket was sold in my county, Cork. Odds of being distantly related (through marriage) to the winner increasing...
https://www.rte.ie/news/europe/2025/0616/1518635-holidaymakers-opting-for-cooler-destinations-in-europe/
It's absolutely stunning. And yet, I find myself hesitant, because of the heat. Last summer it was regularly over 40C..
Hmm
It doesn't help that my friend refuses to install AC as he says it will "ruin the aesthetics". Which is true, but eeeek