The only thing worse than tipping is people complaining about tipping.
I am going to complain about the people who complain about tipping. I tip if I have enough money (I don't always). Be good to the staff because one day that will be you.
No. Just charge me what the thing costs and pay the person serving appropriately. It's not the cost I object to, it's a fundamentally embarassing transaction. I don't like the implied superior/supplicant relationship. If you are comfortable with it I doubt you are truly British.
I was really pissed off the other day
Went to a Greek takeout stall for lunch. £9.99 was loudly signed as the price (expensive but I was hungry and in a hurry).
Got the bill and they had added a £2 cover charge.
I remember when it was all about when they go low, we go high.
They lost doing that.
New plan...
No, they lost because they first lied to the public about how Biden wasn't seriously declining and then picked a lady who was absolutely terrible candidate.
No, they lost because ... here I insert something that suits my politics and worldview.
'When Parliament and the BBC ignore the Government’s conclusion that genocide is not taking place, but give obsessive, wall-to-wall coverage to claims by the United Nations, they fuel hostility against the world’s only Jewish state and, in turn, against British Jews.
As Lord Austin rightly said, portraying Israel as uniquely evil drives antisemitism here in Britain, because Jews are overwhelmingly identified with Israel. That is why 70,000 people felt compelled to march with us outside the BBC and Parliament. This should be a source of profound shame for our legislators and our national broadcaster.'
Is this in part a consequence of the BBC merging its national and international news teams?
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
People will view this sort of thing in the future with the same disbelief that some people today have towards the fact that smoking was allowed on aeroplanes until the 1990s.
I remember being in the no smoking section of an aeroplane. It was the row directly in front of the smoking section. Well I guess someone had to be there.
In my days as a heavy smoker I enjoyed a cigarette in the following locations Pub Restaurant Aeroplane Train Bus, double and single decker At my desk at work In a factory at work Public buildings Cinema Etc etc etc
You can't even crack one off in these locations any more, let alone smoke
My favourite part of politics right now is, after years of complaining about 'cancel culture', the US right has proven itself to be the snowiest of snowflakes who want to cancel anyone who upsets them with their hurty words.
It would appear they never really cared about free speech and the first amendment. I can't say I'm shocked. Their supposedly gilt edged, liberty protecting Constitution seems to be very susceptible to partisan interpretation, or in Trump’s case to be ignorable at will when inconvenient.
Eh? Few more uncompromising ways of cancelling someone articulating a vuew you don't like than by shooting him? I'd say concerns about cancel culture are pretty valid.
Especially when it's the administration doing it. The same people who ran on a promise to end cancel culture are implementing an overt, quasi-official one of their own. Given all the First Amendment fetishising from the likes of Vance, and his lecturing of Europe on the subject, it's hypocrisy of the highest order. The barefaced cheek of it really is quite something.
One sliver of silver lining to the Trump administration's recent censorial crackdowns is that we will surely never again have to endure Vance's pieties on that subject. Even his admirers on the British Right must now see his free-speech pronouncements as so much cant.
Under the Malmesbury Immigration & Enlistment act of 2029, all those entering the United Kingdom in an irregular manner are deemed to have enlisted in the Royal Navy.
All those picked up in the Channel will be immediately assigned apprenticeship places on board RN ships outbound for long cruises.
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
People will view this sort of thing in the future with the same disbelief that some people today have towards the fact that smoking was allowed on aeroplanes until the 1990s.
I remember being in the no smoking section of an aeroplane. It was the row directly in front of the smoking section. Well I guess someone had to be there.
In my days as a heavy smoker I enjoyed a cigarette in the following locations Pub Restaurant Aeroplane Train Bus, double and single decker At my desk at work In a factory at work Public buildings Cinema Etc etc etc
You can't even crack one off in these locations any more, let alone smoke
Sir Keir Starmer is giving Hamas a “reward for terrorism” by recognising a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader said Sir Keir was “incapable of leading Britain on the world stage” and accused him of “economic self-sabotage” in the face of global threats by implementing net zero.
In an essay for The Telegraph on her foreign policy plans, Mrs Badenoch condemned the Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state in an attempt to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.
She said the Conservatives would “never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism” and accused Sir Keir of being “nice” to hostile foreign powers.
My favourite part of politics right now is, after years of complaining about 'cancel culture', the US right has proven itself to be the snowiest of snowflakes who want to cancel anyone who upsets them with their hurty words.
It would appear they never really cared about free speech and the first amendment. I can't say I'm shocked. Their supposedly gilt edged, liberty protecting Constitution seems to be very susceptible to partisan interpretation, or in Trump’s case to be ignorable at will when inconvenient.
Eh? Few more uncompromising ways of cancelling someone articulating a vuew you don't like than by shooting him? I'd say concerns about cancel culture are pretty valid.
Especially when it's the administration doing it. The same people who ran on a promise to end cancel culture are implementing an overt, quasi-official one of their own. Given all the First Amendment fetishising from the likes of Vance, and his lecturing of Europe on the subject, it's hypocrisy of the highest order. The barefaced cheek of it really is quite something.
One sliver of silver lining to the Trump administration's recent censorial crackdowns is that we will surely never again have to endure Vance's pieties on that subject. Even his admirers on the British Right must now see his free-speech pronouncements as so much cant.
Nobody in the UK will back these start-ups with the amount required, so yet again will be eaten up by US tech companies. For Nvidia they can't really lose in a way, they put money in and Wayve buy loads of Nvidia products.
Sir Keir Starmer is giving Hamas a “reward for terrorism” by recognising a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader said Sir Keir was “incapable of leading Britain on the world stage” and accused him of “economic self-sabotage” in the face of global threats by implementing net zero.
In an essay for The Telegraph on her foreign policy plans, Mrs Badenoch condemned the Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state in an attempt to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.
She said the Conservatives would “never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism” and accused Sir Keir of being “nice” to hostile foreign powers.
That would have been a fair point if it was done 18 months ago.
It's been nearly 2 years since the horrendous Hamas attacks and Israel continues to collectively punish the people of Gaza. It's right that there are consequences for this. If anything, I'd argue recognising Palestine is too symbolic and more concrete measures should be taken against the current Israeli government.
My favourite part of politics right now is, after years of complaining about 'cancel culture', the US right has proven itself to be the snowiest of snowflakes who want to cancel anyone who upsets them with their hurty words.
It would appear they never really cared about free speech and the first amendment. I can't say I'm shocked. Their supposedly gilt edged, liberty protecting Constitution seems to be very susceptible to partisan interpretation, or in Trump’s case to be ignorable at will when inconvenient.
Eh? Few more uncompromising ways of cancelling someone articulating a vuew you don't like than by shooting him? I'd say concerns about cancel culture are pretty valid.
Especially when it's the administration doing it. The same people who ran on a promise to end cancel culture are implementing an overt, quasi-official one of their own. Given all the First Amendment fetishising from the likes of Vance, and his lecturing of Europe on the subject, it's hypocrisy of the highest order. The barefaced cheek of it really is quite something.
One sliver of silver lining to the Trump administration's recent censorial crackdowns is that we will surely never again have to endure Vance's pieties on that subject. Even his admirers on the British Right must now see his free-speech pronouncements as so much cant.
I expect Vance and the other pondlife in the US administration will continue to try and lecture us over free speech .
Isn’t that another league table that gives big weightings to “feels”? The only Uni rankings I know that a lot of companies, especially global entities take seriously are the QS ones where St Andrews and Durham don’t trump Oxbridge etc.
My favourite part of politics right now is, after years of complaining about 'cancel culture', the US right has proven itself to be the snowiest of snowflakes who want to cancel anyone who upsets them with their hurty words.
It would appear they never really cared about free speech and the first amendment. I can't say I'm shocked. Their supposedly gilt edged, liberty protecting Constitution seems to be very susceptible to partisan interpretation, or in Trump’s case to be ignorable at will when inconvenient.
Eh? Few more uncompromising ways of cancelling someone articulating a vuew you don't like than by shooting him? I'd say concerns about cancel culture are pretty valid.
Especially when it's the administration doing it. The same people who ran on a promise to end cancel culture are implementing an overt, quasi-official one of their own. Given all the First Amendment fetishising from the likes of Vance, and his lecturing of Europe on the subject, it's hypocrisy of the highest order. The barefaced cheek of it really is quite something.
One sliver of silver lining to the Trump administration's recent censorial crackdowns is that we will surely never again have to endure Vance's pieties on that subject. Even his admirers on the British Right must now see his free-speech pronouncements as so much cant.
You'd have thought so. But I sense a position developing that goes, "we have no choice, no choice, because radical left hate speech as sure as eggs leads to bloody violence and the murder of good patriots".
Nobody in the UK will back these start-ups with the amount required, so yet again will be eaten up by US tech companies. For Nvidia they can't really lose in a way, they put money in and Wayve buy loads of Nvidia products.
There was a hysterically funny article, in the Guardian I think, when Sunak was chancellor. Apparently a venture capital fund run by the government had seen only 75% of the companies it had given money to, survive and succeed.
Funny because if Sunak had actually being running a real venture capital fund and had a 75% hit rate, he would be the best investor in startups ever. By an order of magnitude.
Of course, it wasn’t a start fund up in that sense
In the U.K. the idea of the 1% punt that pays for the other 99% just doesn’t happened.
My favourite part of politics right now is, after years of complaining about 'cancel culture', the US right has proven itself to be the snowiest of snowflakes who want to cancel anyone who upsets them with their hurty words.
It would appear they never really cared about free speech and the first amendment. I can't say I'm shocked. Their supposedly gilt edged, liberty protecting Constitution seems to be very susceptible to partisan interpretation, or in Trump’s case to be ignorable at will when inconvenient.
Eh? Few more uncompromising ways of cancelling someone articulating a vuew you don't like than by shooting him? I'd say concerns about cancel culture are pretty valid.
Especially when it's the administration doing it. The same people who ran on a promise to end cancel culture are implementing an overt, quasi-official one of their own. Given all the First Amendment fetishising from the likes of Vance, and his lecturing of Europe on the subject, it's hypocrisy of the highest order. The barefaced cheek of it really is quite something.
One sliver of silver lining to the Trump administration's recent censorial crackdowns is that we will surely never again have to endure Vance's pieties on that subject. Even his admirers on the British Right must now see his free-speech pronouncements as so much cant.
People rarely see their own hypocrisy. Genuinely so, we don't just pretend it.
'When Parliament and the BBC ignore the Government’s conclusion that genocide is not taking place, but give obsessive, wall-to-wall coverage to claims by the United Nations, they fuel hostility against the world’s only Jewish state and, in turn, against British Jews.
As Lord Austin rightly said, portraying Israel as uniquely evil drives antisemitism here in Britain, because Jews are overwhelmingly identified with Israel. That is why 70,000 people felt compelled to march with us outside the BBC and Parliament. This should be a source of profound shame for our legislators and our national broadcaster.'
Is this in part a consequence of the BBC merging its national and international news teams?
I tend to tune out most 'UN says x' reports. Most of the time it turns out to be one obscure apparatchik pushing some personal bugbear but is given the veneer of legitimacy because they hold some meaningless UN post and its treated like a judgement fron Mount Olympus.
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
The only clip of him I've seen was some hackneyed trad-macho nonsense about "only beta guys split the bill on a date." He seemed like a bit of a dick tbh. But I guess that's no barrier to maga stardom.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
Sir Keir Starmer is giving Hamas a “reward for terrorism” by recognising a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader said Sir Keir was “incapable of leading Britain on the world stage” and accused him of “economic self-sabotage” in the face of global threats by implementing net zero.
In an essay for The Telegraph on her foreign policy plans, Mrs Badenoch condemned the Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state in an attempt to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.
She said the Conservatives would “never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism” and accused Sir Keir of being “nice” to hostile foreign powers.
That would have been a fair point if it was done 18 months ago.
It's been nearly 2 years since the horrendous Hamas attacks and Israel continues to collectively punish the people of Gaza. It's right that there are consequences for this. If anything, I'd argue recognising Palestine is too symbolic and more concrete measures should be taken against the current Israeli government.
Hamas are still holding hostages. What measures are being taken to make them release them? Instead the government is rewarding them.
Under the Malmesbury Immigration & Enlistment act of 2029, all those entering the United Kingdom in an irregular manner are deemed to have enlisted in the Royal Navy.
All those picked up in the Channel will be immediately assigned apprenticeship places on board RN ships outbound for long cruises.
Nobody in the UK will back these start-ups with the amount required, so yet again will be eaten up by US tech companies. For Nvidia they can't really lose in a way, they put money in and Wayve buy loads of Nvidia products.
There was a hysterically funny article, in the Guardian I think, when Sunak was chancellor. Apparently a venture capital fund run by the government had seen only 75% of the companies it had given money to, survive and succeed.
Funny because if Sunak had actually being running a real venture capital fund and had a 75% hit rate, he would be the best investor in startups ever. By an order of magnitude.
Of course, it wasn’t a start fund up in that sense
In the U.K. the idea of the 1% punt that pays for the other 99% just doesn’t happened.
I was chatting to one of our (early stage) VCs the other day, and he said "Usually, one position* is repsonsible for 60 or 70% of total returns for a fund. If you get lucky and you get two of these, you're a hero. And if you get none, then you're an idiot."
He's hoping we're the one** for his fund!
* out of 20 to 30 ** or one of two, he has a very exciting space tech investment that's also doing very well
Tucker Carlson has spotted the danger to free speech with Kimmel's cancellation. He does not want to end up where we are.
Tucker Carlson has also floated the idea that it was actually Israeli intelligence that was responsible for Kirk's death, because he was about to reveal their ties with Epstein.
Under the Malmesbury Immigration & Enlistment act of 2029, all those entering the United Kingdom in an irregular manner are deemed to have enlisted in the Royal Navy.
All those picked up in the Channel will be immediately assigned apprenticeship places on board RN ships outbound for long cruises.
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
Sir Keir Starmer is giving Hamas a “reward for terrorism” by recognising a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader said Sir Keir was “incapable of leading Britain on the world stage” and accused him of “economic self-sabotage” in the face of global threats by implementing net zero.
In an essay for The Telegraph on her foreign policy plans, Mrs Badenoch condemned the Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state in an attempt to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.
She said the Conservatives would “never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism” and accused Sir Keir of being “nice” to hostile foreign powers.
That would have been a fair point if it was done 18 months ago.
It's been nearly 2 years since the horrendous Hamas attacks and Israel continues to collectively punish the people of Gaza. It's right that there are consequences for this. If anything, I'd argue recognising Palestine is too symbolic and more concrete measures should be taken against the current Israeli government.
Hamas are still holding hostages. What measures are being taken to make them release them? Instead the government is rewarding them.
Hamas are being annihilated. The UK government is just making PC noises. For what it's worth I think that's the right balance. Quite what will be said when Israel annexes Gaza with Trump (not the US) as a business partner escapes me.
Tucker Carlson has spotted the danger to free speech with Kimmel's cancellation. He does not want to end up where we are.
Tucker Carlson has also floated the idea that it was actually Israeli intelligence that was responsible for Kirk's death, because he was about to reveal their ties with Epstein.
I can't work out with Carlson if he believes this stuff or that he thinks his audience will lap it up.
Nobody in the UK will back these start-ups with the amount required, so yet again will be eaten up by US tech companies. For Nvidia they can't really lose in a way, they put money in and Wayve buy loads of Nvidia products.
There was a hysterically funny article, in the Guardian I think, when Sunak was chancellor. Apparently a venture capital fund run by the government had seen only 75% of the companies it had given money to, survive and succeed.
Funny because if Sunak had actually being running a real venture capital fund and had a 75% hit rate, he would be the best investor in startups ever. By an order of magnitude.
Of course, it wasn’t a start fund up in that sense
In the U.K. the idea of the 1% punt that pays for the other 99% just doesn’t happened.
I was chatting to one of our (early stage) VCs the other day, and he said "Usually, one position* is repsonsible for 60 or 70% of total returns for a fund. If you get lucky and you get two of these, you're a hero. And if you get none, then you're an idiot."
He's hoping we're the one** for his fund!
* out of 20 to 30 ** or one of two, he has a very exciting space tech investment that's also doing very well
If you got 15 out of 20, they’d probably start a religion about you.
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
People will view this sort of thing in the future with the same disbelief that some people today have towards the fact that smoking was allowed on aeroplanes until the 1990s.
Or husbands could rape their wives legally until 1991.
Sir Keir Starmer is giving Hamas a “reward for terrorism” by recognising a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader said Sir Keir was “incapable of leading Britain on the world stage” and accused him of “economic self-sabotage” in the face of global threats by implementing net zero.
In an essay for The Telegraph on her foreign policy plans, Mrs Badenoch condemned the Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state in an attempt to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.
She said the Conservatives would “never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism” and accused Sir Keir of being “nice” to hostile foreign powers.
Why can we not recognise the West Bank as the Palestinian State? Then we are not rewarding Hamas, not recognising a territory that is currently at war, but still punishing Israel symbolically.
Tucker Carlson has spotted the danger to free speech with Kimmel's cancellation. He does not want to end up where we are.
Tucker Carlson has also floated the idea that it was actually Israeli intelligence that was responsible for Kirk's death, because he was about to reveal their ties with Epstein.
I can't work out with Carlson if he believes this stuff or that he thinks his audience will lap it up.
I can't work out with Carlson if he believes this stuff or just that he thinks his audience will lap it up....and if it is just a pure grift or something more.
I would say pure grift, but we have seen plenty of people go quite mental after too much time on the internet.
Tucker Carlson has spotted the danger to free speech with Kimmel's cancellation. He does not want to end up where we are.
Tucker Carlson has also floated the idea that it was actually Israeli intelligence that was responsible for Kirk's death, because he was about to reveal their ties with Epstein.
I can't work out with Carlson if he believes this stuff or that he thinks his audience will lap it up.
The perennial question with these people. It's in a sense more reprehensible if they don't.
Sir Keir Starmer is giving Hamas a “reward for terrorism” by recognising a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader said Sir Keir was “incapable of leading Britain on the world stage” and accused him of “economic self-sabotage” in the face of global threats by implementing net zero.
In an essay for The Telegraph on her foreign policy plans, Mrs Badenoch condemned the Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state in an attempt to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.
She said the Conservatives would “never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism” and accused Sir Keir of being “nice” to hostile foreign powers.
That would have been a fair point if it was done 18 months ago.
It's been nearly 2 years since the horrendous Hamas attacks and Israel continues to collectively punish the people of Gaza. It's right that there are consequences for this. If anything, I'd argue recognising Palestine is too symbolic and more concrete measures should be taken against the current Israeli government.
Hamas are still holding hostages. What measures are being taken to make them release them? Instead the government is rewarding them.
Bibi is never done saying every measure is being taken to get the hostages released. Admittedly this involves a) killing thousands of unarmed civilians and b) no released hostages, but still..
Sir Keir Starmer is giving Hamas a “reward for terrorism” by recognising a Palestinian state, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader said Sir Keir was “incapable of leading Britain on the world stage” and accused him of “economic self-sabotage” in the face of global threats by implementing net zero.
In an essay for The Telegraph on her foreign policy plans, Mrs Badenoch condemned the Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state in an attempt to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.
She said the Conservatives would “never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism” and accused Sir Keir of being “nice” to hostile foreign powers.
That would have been a fair point if it was done 18 months ago.
It's been nearly 2 years since the horrendous Hamas attacks and Israel continues to collectively punish the people of Gaza. It's right that there are consequences for this. If anything, I'd argue recognising Palestine is too symbolic and more concrete measures should be taken against the current Israeli government.
Hamas are still holding hostages. What measures are being taken to make them release them? Instead the government is rewarding them.
It's awful that 20 to 80 hostages are still being kept by Hamas, with the number Alice estimated at the lower end of the range, but there are that many civilians dying every day in Gaza from the war. The wellbeing of some unfortunate people can't completely override the wellbeing of many, many more unfortunate people.
The actions of Hamas do not give the Israeli government a blank cheque without consequence. It is not zero sum. Quiet diplomacy has clearly not worked, so it's past time we should stay taking stronger measures.
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
It seems pretty clear to me that anyone who returns voluntarily to the country that they have sought asylum from has forfeited their right to asylum.
I think the only exception would be if there was a change of government in that country which completely changed the situation re those who originally sought asylum . If the Afghan story is true then that’s not good at all .
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
It seems pretty clear to me that anyone who returns voluntarily to the country that they have sought asylum from has forfeited their right to asylum.
Indeed.
Here in the US, I know lots of families that fled Persia when the Shah was overthrown and the Mullahs took over. Some of them, forty years later (and as American citizens), are willing to make trips to Iran to see long-lost families.
And you think... well, a quarter century forty five years has passed, you're now American, there were US hostages in Tehran then, and not now, fair enough.
But to do it within a couple of years is just taking the piss.
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
The only clip of him I've seen was some hackneyed trad-macho nonsense about "only beta guys split the bill on a date." He seemed like a bit of a dick tbh. But I guess that's no barrier to maga stardom.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
I detest splitting the bill on any occasion. I just find it unspeakably crass. I have paid for dinner for six (including me) more than once to avoid it. Obviously if it's more than that my scruples have to bow to my bank balance.
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
It seems pretty clear to me that anyone who returns voluntarily to the country that they have sought asylum from has forfeited their right to asylum.
I think the only exception would be if there was a change of government in that country which completely changed the situation re those who originally sought asylum . If the Afghan story is true then that’s not good at all .
Isn't a significant part of the issue that the processing system ground to a halt and is still moving with the energy of an arthritic slug who would really rather be having a nap?
OK, that means that few people get accepted, but also that obviously bad causes don't get rejected?
Spitting Image takes aim at Taylor Swift and JD Vance. The satirical ITV show returns to screens on Saturday evening for its first 12-part series since it was revived
Tucker Carlson has spotted the danger to free speech with Kimmel's cancellation. He does not want to end up where we are.
Tucker Carlson has also floated the idea that it was actually Israeli intelligence that was responsible for Kirk's death, because he was about to reveal their ties with Epstein.
I can't work out with Carlson if he believes this stuff or that he thinks his audience will lap it up.
It's hard to know.
I think some people (like @Leon) just see conspiracy everywhere. And sometimes they're right. But most of the time, Hanlon's razer applies.
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
People will view this sort of thing in the future with the same disbelief that some people today have towards the fact that smoking was allowed on aeroplanes until the 1990s.
I remember being in the no smoking section of an aeroplane. It was the row directly in front of the smoking section. Well I guess someone had to be there.
In my days as a heavy smoker I enjoyed a cigarette in the following locations Pub Restaurant Aeroplane Train Bus, double and single decker At my desk at work In a factory at work Public buildings Cinema Etc etc etc
You can't even crack one off in these locations any more, let alone smoke
I lived, worked and socialised throughout that era and the passive smoking involved never caused me more than annoyance and inconvenience.
A few years of passive vaping has destroyed my senses of taste & smell and is getting to my lungs.
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
It seems pretty clear to me that anyone who returns voluntarily to the country that they have sought asylum from has forfeited their right to asylum.
Why? Let's say you flee Freelandia and are given asylum in Peebeezia. You become a citizen in Peebeezia. The situation in Freelandia gets a bit better after the death of the dictator in Freelandia, but it's still dodgy. You haven't seen your family in years, perhaps. With the protection of the citizenship of Peebeezia, you decide it is safe enough to visit for a short time. It may, however, remain unsafe to return permanently and without the protection of Peebeezia.
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
The only clip of him I've seen was some hackneyed trad-macho nonsense about "only beta guys split the bill on a date." He seemed like a bit of a dick tbh. But I guess that's no barrier to maga stardom.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
I detest splitting the bill on any occasion. I just find it unspeakably crass. I have paid for dinner for six (including me) more than once to avoid it. Obviously if it's more than that my scruples have to bow to my bank balance.
Eh? It’s incredibly normal to split bills, in fact waiting staff often ask before you do.
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
People will view this sort of thing in the future with the same disbelief that some people today have towards the fact that smoking was allowed on aeroplanes until the 1990s.
I remember being in the no smoking section of an aeroplane. It was the row directly in front of the smoking section. Well I guess someone had to be there.
In my days as a heavy smoker I enjoyed a cigarette in the following locations Pub Restaurant Aeroplane Train Bus, double and single decker At my desk at work In a factory at work Public buildings Cinema Etc etc etc
You can't even crack one off in these locations any more, let alone smoke
I lived, worked and socialised throughout that era and the passive smoking involved never caused me more than annoyance and inconvenience.
A few years of passive vaping has destroyed my senses of taste & smell and is getting to my lungs.
Other than the increased risk of lung cancer of course. I’m also fairly sure we will start to see the harms of vaping coming through too.
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
The only clip of him I've seen was some hackneyed trad-macho nonsense about "only beta guys split the bill on a date." He seemed like a bit of a dick tbh. But I guess that's no barrier to maga stardom.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
I detest splitting the bill on any occasion. I just find it unspeakably crass. I have paid for dinner for six (including me) more than once to avoid it. Obviously if it's more than that my scruples have to bow to my bank balance.
I like both paying in full and not paying at all. Worst, from an aesthetic and faff perspective, is divvying up. It's the worst sort of sterile centrism. But it's not 'beta'. That sort of alpha v beta trad-macho talk is one of the worst features of the online maga right. They think it's edgy and cool and a little bit transgressive, but it's a pile of old wank.
You have to appreciate that the Scottish Parliament debates and decides on very few matters of any importance. Seagulls and their obnoxious behaviour is right up there.
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
The only clip of him I've seen was some hackneyed trad-macho nonsense about "only beta guys split the bill on a date." He seemed like a bit of a dick tbh. But I guess that's no barrier to maga stardom.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
I detest splitting the bill on any occasion. I just find it unspeakably crass. I have paid for dinner for six (including me) more than once to avoid it. Obviously if it's more than that my scruples have to bow to my bank balance.
I like both paying in full and not paying at all. Worst, from an aesthetic and faff perspective, is divvying up. It's the worst sort of sterile centrism. But it's not 'beta'. That sort of alpha v beta trad-macho talk is one of the worst features of the online maga right. They think it's edgy and cool and a little bit transgressive, but it's a pile of old wank.
Are you one of those dine and dash type of guys? ;-)
I would imagine for you the worst scenario is somebody agrees to get all the bill on their and then cash comes out to settle up between the guests....
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
The only clip of him I've seen was some hackneyed trad-macho nonsense about "only beta guys split the bill on a date." He seemed like a bit of a dick tbh. But I guess that's no barrier to maga stardom.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
I detest splitting the bill on any occasion. I just find it unspeakably crass. I have paid for dinner for six (including me) more than once to avoid it. Obviously if it's more than that my scruples have to bow to my bank balance.
I like both paying in full and not paying at all. Worst, from an aesthetic and faff perspective, is divvying up. It's the worst sort of sterile centrism. But it's not 'beta'. That sort of alpha v beta trad-macho talk is one of the worst features of the online maga right. They think it's edgy and cool and a little bit transgressive, but it's a pile of old wank.
Are you one of those dine and dash type of guys? ;-)
Lol, no I meant being really beta and letting some huge magnificent alpha type pay.
Migrant who raped woman in Hyde Park is convicted terrorist
Abdelrahmen Adnan Abouelela was sentenced in Egypt for building explosives, before entering the UK and staying in a Hilton hotel while claiming asylum. He had been convicted in absentia in Egypt as part of a bomb-making cell and sentenced to seven years in May 2015. An Egyptian court found that he and six accomplices had built explosives intended to damage electricity pylons and gas lines in a “terrorist” act,
It seems pretty clear to me that anyone who returns voluntarily to the country that they have sought asylum from has forfeited their right to asylum.
Why? Let's say you flee Freelandia and are given asylum in Peebeezia. You become a citizen in Peebeezia. The situation in Freelandia gets a bit better after the death of the dictator in Freelandia, but it's still dodgy. You haven't seen your family in years, perhaps. With the protection of the citizenship of Peebeezia, you decide it is safe enough to visit for a short time. It may, however, remain unsafe to return permanently and without the protection of Peebeezia.
Sure:
But that's just like the case of the Persians who head over to Iran from the US.
It is clearly not the case for Afghani citizens who have claimed asylum in the UK and then gone on holiday to Afghanistan.
Just looks wrong and thus almost certainly is. We all know it's Oxbridge, tiny gap, Imperial, slight gap, others of the better sort.
I was coincidentally talking to a friend about LSE - good. mad, but not of the first rank was I think the conclusion as to their graduates.
Interesting that Bath continues to look good.
It’s all about the metrics. Intake grades at A level, graduate employability, teaching quantity. Plus our Business, Mech Eng and a few others are pretty good departments. But there is a laser like focus from the centre on league tables.
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
The only clip of him I've seen was some hackneyed trad-macho nonsense about "only beta guys split the bill on a date." He seemed like a bit of a dick tbh. But I guess that's no barrier to maga stardom.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
I detest splitting the bill on any occasion. I just find it unspeakably crass. I have paid for dinner for six (including me) more than once to avoid it. Obviously if it's more than that my scruples have to bow to my bank balance.
At the PB Northern Meeting I'll be joining your table.
You have to appreciate that the Scottish Parliament debates and decides on very few matters of any importance. Seagulls and their obnoxious behaviour is right up there.
I assume when they double your Income Tax rate and amend the Scottish legal system to remove the necessity for advocates, they won’t be matters of any importance.
This suggests why we rely to such a foolish extent on foreign investment. Why are we allowing overseas investors to buy boring old utilities, for example, when they would be a very good vehicle for relatively low risk, inflation protected investment ?
Folk in the UK put £103bln into ISAs last year, £69.5bln of that (approx 2/3rds) went into cash ISAs...essentially, guaranteeing a near-zero, if not negative, real return on those funds over the next year...so much more financial education needed across the board... https://x.com/MrMBrown/status/1968904613987279317
Dividends would remain onshore, rather than adding to our long term balance of payments deficit.
'When Parliament and the BBC ignore the Government’s conclusion that genocide is not taking place, but give obsessive, wall-to-wall coverage to claims by the United Nations, they fuel hostility against the world’s only Jewish state and, in turn, against British Jews.
As Lord Austin rightly said, portraying Israel as uniquely evil drives antisemitism here in Britain, because Jews are overwhelmingly identified with Israel. That is why 70,000 people felt compelled to march with us outside the BBC and Parliament. This should be a source of profound shame for our legislators and our national broadcaster.'
Is this in part a consequence of the BBC merging its national and international news teams?
Maybe this is a minority view, but from my perspective, and I have always been a strong supporter of Israel, and a supporter of a two state solution and very opposed to Hamas, I think overall the BBC's coverage has been scrupulously fair and they have been acting well in a completely impossible situation. If anything they have gone a bit light on the strategic and policy implications of the amount of destruction there has been in Gaza.
The BBC has done less well in covering Sudan, a horrific war, and has done little to convey the complex reality of the internal and external interests and forces at work. They have also, understandably, done less well in the Ukraine war, especially on the subject of the Russian case (with which I disagree of course) for the Russianisation of at least part of Ukraine.
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
The only clip of him I've seen was some hackneyed trad-macho nonsense about "only beta guys split the bill on a date." He seemed like a bit of a dick tbh. But I guess that's no barrier to maga stardom.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
I detest splitting the bill on any occasion. I just find it unspeakably crass. I have paid for dinner for six (including me) more than once to avoid it. Obviously if it's more than that my scruples have to bow to my bank balance.
I like both paying in full and not paying at all. Worst, from an aesthetic and faff perspective, is divvying up. It's the worst sort of sterile centrism. But it's not 'beta'. That sort of alpha v beta trad-macho talk is one of the worst features of the online maga right. They think it's edgy and cool and a little bit transgressive, but it's a pile of old wank.
Anyone who non-ironically uses the word 'beta' in that kind of context needs to be taken outside and smacked upside the head with a big fish.
This suggests why we rely to such a foolish extent on foreign investment. Why are we allowing overseas investors to buy boring old utilities, for example, when they would be a very good vehicle for relatively low risk, inflation protected investment ?
Folk in the UK put £103bln into ISAs last year, £69.5bln of that (approx 2/3rds) went into cash ISAs...essentially, guaranteeing a near-zero, if not negative, real return on those funds over the next year...so much more financial education needed across the board... https://x.com/MrMBrown/status/1968904613987279317
Dividends would remain onshore, rather than adding to our long term balance of payments deficit.
Because we (for various values of "we") decided we would rather have the cash upfront.
This suggests why we rely to such a foolish extent on foreign investment. Why are we allowing overseas investors to buy boring old utilities, for example, when they would be a very good vehicle for relatively low risk, inflation protected investment ?
Folk in the UK put £103bln into ISAs last year, £69.5bln of that (approx 2/3rds) went into cash ISAs...essentially, guaranteeing a near-zero, if not negative, real return on those funds over the next year...so much more financial education needed across the board... https://x.com/MrMBrown/status/1968904613987279317
Dividends would remain onshore, rather than adding to our long term balance of payments deficit.
Dunno, I've currently got 0.5% of my Lisa and pension assets invested in UK equities...
You have to appreciate that the Scottish Parliament debates and decides on very few matters of any importance. Seagulls and their obnoxious behaviour is right up there.
I assume when they double your Income Tax rate and amend the Scottish legal system to remove the necessity for advocates, they won’t be matters of any importance.
They can't, thankfully, double my IT rate. They are already quite close to the maximum damage they can inflict on Scotland in that respect. And they, if anything, are increasing the demand for advocates with insanities like their "Victims" Act.
'When Parliament and the BBC ignore the Government’s conclusion that genocide is not taking place, but give obsessive, wall-to-wall coverage to claims by the United Nations, they fuel hostility against the world’s only Jewish state and, in turn, against British Jews.
As Lord Austin rightly said, portraying Israel as uniquely evil drives antisemitism here in Britain, because Jews are overwhelmingly identified with Israel. That is why 70,000 people felt compelled to march with us outside the BBC and Parliament. This should be a source of profound shame for our legislators and our national broadcaster.'
Is this in part a consequence of the BBC merging its national and international news teams?
Maybe this is a minority view, but from my perspective, and I have always been a strong supporter of Israel, and a supporter of a two state solution and very opposed to Hamas, I think overall the BBC's coverage has been scrupulously fair and they have been acting well in a completely impossible situation. If anything they have gone a bit light on the strategic and policy implications of the amount of destruction there has been in Gaza.
The BBC has done less well in covering Sudan, a horrific war, and has done little to convey the complex reality of the internal and external interests and forces at work. They have also, understandably, done less well in the Ukraine war, especially on the subject of the Russian case (with which I disagree of course) for the Russianisation of at least part of Ukraine.
Well I agree with you if no-ons else does and you hsve put it so well.
Amazing how little damage the whole Gaddafi thing did to LSE's reputation.
St. Andrews will be top of the table next year, if @Leon’s daughter has her father’s elevated IQ.
Just across the Tay from the 'dee. I hope Leon is not encouraging the carrying of knives and axes.
Dundee did pretty well too in a recent league table (might have been the Graun one).
Dundee does really well on student satisfaction, mainly because there is a lot of dirt cheap accommodation in the city and the social life for students is good. The scoring on the academic performance of their courses (with exceptions like medicine) is less inspiring.
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
The only clip of him I've seen was some hackneyed trad-macho nonsense about "only beta guys split the bill on a date." He seemed like a bit of a dick tbh. But I guess that's no barrier to maga stardom.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
I detest splitting the bill on any occasion. I just find it unspeakably crass. I have paid for dinner for six (including me) more than once to avoid it. Obviously if it's more than that my scruples have to bow to my bank balance.
I like both paying in full and not paying at all. Worst, from an aesthetic and faff perspective, is divvying up. It's the worst sort of sterile centrism. But it's not 'beta'. That sort of alpha v beta trad-macho talk is one of the worst features of the online maga right. They think it's edgy and cool and a little bit transgressive, but it's a pile of old wank.
Anyone who non-ironically uses the word 'beta' in that kind of context needs to be taken outside and smacked upside the head with a big fish.
That would be a most suitable and proportionate response.
This suggests why we rely to such a foolish extent on foreign investment. Why are we allowing overseas investors to buy boring old utilities, for example, when they would be a very good vehicle for relatively low risk, inflation protected investment ?
Folk in the UK put £103bln into ISAs last year, £69.5bln of that (approx 2/3rds) went into cash ISAs...essentially, guaranteeing a near-zero, if not negative, real return on those funds over the next year...so much more financial education needed across the board... https://x.com/MrMBrown/status/1968904613987279317
Dividends would remain onshore, rather than adding to our long term balance of payments deficit.
Because we (for various values of "we") decided we would rather have the cash upfront.
Cash ISAs are covered by the FSCS, share ISAs aren't.
Amazing how little damage the whole Gaddafi thing did to LSE's reputation.
St. Andrews will be top of the table next year, if @Leon’s daughter has her father’s elevated IQ.
Just across the Tay from the 'dee. I hope Leon is not encouraging the carrying of knives and axes.
Dundee did pretty well too in a recent league table (might have been the Graun one).
I imagine it's largely the video game education that they provide? The art school also has a decent rep I think.
A bit niche but they always seem to be the go-to on archeology and crime docs when they need bones studied and skulls “brought to life” so they are either great at forensic archaeology or a bit twisted.
The evening after the night before in Newham and another huge win for the Newham Independents in Plaistow South, routing Labour and confirming themselves as the official opposition on the council.
There's a good analysis of what happened from Open Newham:
The numbers (Newham Independents 44%, Labour 21%) compare with the by-election in Plaistow North in November 2023 when Sophia Naqvi won 46% for the Independents against 27% for Labour.
I thought, at 16%, the Reform figure was impressive and the Greens, LDs and Conservatives all saw big drops in vote shares.
What does this mean for May 2026? Open Newham suggests the Independents should win Plaistow North, Plaistow South and Boleyn (where they have won by elections) and the Green Street East and West Wards giving them 15 on the new council. I'd go further and add East Ham, Plashet and Little Ilford as Wards which the Newham Independents must have a strong chance of winning and that's 23 seats.
The questions are many - first, will Newham Independents stand a full slate of 66 candidates (plus a Mayoral candidate) and in how many Wards will they campaign? There are some parts of Newham with more Hindus than Muslims such as Wall End and Custom House while the Greens are entrenched in Stratford.
The two Forest Gate Wards (5 seats) look a fascinating clash between Labour, the Independents and the Greens and it's hard to see how they will go currently - it could be the Greens and Independents split the anti-Labour vote but the strong perfomance of Reform in Plaistow South makes me wonder whether a) Reform will field a full slate of candidates and b) the impact they might have in some of the less Muslim areas such as the aforementioned Wall End, Custom House and Canning Town.
The Greens may try to win Royal Victoria and West Ham to broaden their base beyond Stratford.
We also have a Mayoral contest to succeed the disastrous Councillor Fiaz - I imagine the Newham Independents will want to put up a strong candidate against Labour while the Greens will also be in the contest.
The complete and total irrelevance of both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats is laid bare - it will be interesting to see whether the Conservatives can even put up a full slate of candidates (the LDs won't).
This suggests why we rely to such a foolish extent on foreign investment. Why are we allowing overseas investors to buy boring old utilities, for example, when they would be a very good vehicle for relatively low risk, inflation protected investment ?
Folk in the UK put £103bln into ISAs last year, £69.5bln of that (approx 2/3rds) went into cash ISAs...essentially, guaranteeing a near-zero, if not negative, real return on those funds over the next year...so much more financial education needed across the board... https://x.com/MrMBrown/status/1968904613987279317
Dividends would remain onshore, rather than adding to our long term balance of payments deficit.
Because we (for various values of "we") decided we would rather have the cash upfront.
Cash ISAs are covered by the FSCS, share ISAs aren't.
For most people your ISA is primarily your emergency fund. It's quite unusual to be making serious long-term investments; rarer still to be maxing out your allowance. That explains why most of it is cash ISA I think.
Amazing how little damage the whole Gaddafi thing did to LSE's reputation.
St. Andrews will be top of the table next year, if @Leon’s daughter has her father’s elevated IQ.
Just across the Tay from the 'dee. I hope Leon is not encouraging the carrying of knives and axes.
Dundee did pretty well too in a recent league table (might have been the Graun one).
I imagine it's largely the video game education that they provide? The art school also has a decent rep I think.
A bit niche but they always seem to be the go-to on archeology and crime docs when they need bones studied and skulls “brought to life” so they are either great at forensic archaeology or a bit twisted.
Down to Sue Black probably who was prof of forensic anthropology and anatomy in Dundee for 15 years. My pal painted this portrait of her.
This suggests why we rely to such a foolish extent on foreign investment. Why are we allowing overseas investors to buy boring old utilities, for example, when they would be a very good vehicle for relatively low risk, inflation protected investment ?
Folk in the UK put £103bln into ISAs last year, £69.5bln of that (approx 2/3rds) went into cash ISAs...essentially, guaranteeing a near-zero, if not negative, real return on those funds over the next year...so much more financial education needed across the board... https://x.com/MrMBrown/status/1968904613987279317
Dividends would remain onshore, rather than adding to our long term balance of payments deficit.
Because we (for various values of "we") decided we would rather have the cash upfront.
Cash ISAs are covered by the FSCS, share ISAs aren't.
For most people your ISA is primarily your emergency fund. It's quite unusual to be making serious long-term investments; rarer still to be maxing out your allowance. That explains why most of it is cash ISA I think.
Fair enough, given that a scarily huge number of people don't even have an emergency fund, which cash ISAs ought to be good for. 20k a year is fairly easy if and only if you have a paid-off mortgage, in which case cash savings aren't really the point... But good luck politically changing that.
And the loss aversion thing is strong, which limits us all.
Amazing how little damage the whole Gaddafi thing did to LSE's reputation.
St. Andrews will be top of the table next year, if @Leon’s daughter has her father’s elevated IQ.
Just across the Tay from the 'dee. I hope Leon is not encouraging the carrying of knives and axes.
Dundee did pretty well too in a recent league table (might have been the Graun one).
I imagine it's largely the video game education that they provide? The art school also has a decent rep I think.
A bit niche but they always seem to be the go-to on archeology and crime docs when they need bones studied and skulls “brought to life” so they are either great at forensic archaeology or a bit twisted.
Down to Sue Black probably who was prof of forensic anthropology and anatomy in Dundee for 15 years. My pal painted this portrait of her.
It’s one of those weird choices for kids which a lot don’t have access to school insight to at deep levels - a lot of the time the best university isn’t “the best university”. In my case the career I wanted (at the time) made sense to go to UCL as it was the best place to do it and also had the benefit of being a top university but I can see how often people miss out on a career course (for want of a better way of putting it) because nobody is there to tell them that actually, if you want to do forensic archeology you are best going to Dundee.
I’m hoping that these days with the internet students can research it themselves and find best options but I imagine there are still plenty going for bigger name universities and then losing out on specialised jobs to people who had the info on where was a good conveyor belt.
Back in the mists of time, when maths was witchfraft and magic, I remember Warwick being considered one of the best in the world for certain “types” of maths courses but people insisting on going to Oxford or Cambridge for the cachet, which is fair enough, but it does end up warping the system.
This suggests why we rely to such a foolish extent on foreign investment. Why are we allowing overseas investors to buy boring old utilities, for example, when they would be a very good vehicle for relatively low risk, inflation protected investment ?
Folk in the UK put £103bln into ISAs last year, £69.5bln of that (approx 2/3rds) went into cash ISAs...essentially, guaranteeing a near-zero, if not negative, real return on those funds over the next year...so much more financial education needed across the board... https://x.com/MrMBrown/status/1968904613987279317
Dividends would remain onshore, rather than adding to our long term balance of payments deficit.
Its especially wasteful as its never been easier or cheaper to invest in the stock market.
Though that also means its never been as easy or cheap to invest in foreign stock markets.
The government should set up a JISA and JSIPP for every baby and put £100 into each.
Amazing how little damage the whole Gaddafi thing did to LSE's reputation.
St. Andrews will be top of the table next year, if @Leon’s daughter has her father’s elevated IQ.
Just across the Tay from the 'dee. I hope Leon is not encouraging the carrying of knives and axes.
Dundee did pretty well too in a recent league table (might have been the Graun one).
I imagine it's largely the video game education that they provide? The art school also has a decent rep I think.
A bit niche but they always seem to be the go-to on archeology and crime docs when they need bones studied and skulls “brought to life” so they are either great at forensic archaeology or a bit twisted.
Down to Sue Black probably who was prof of forensic anthropology and anatomy in Dundee for 15 years. My pal painted this portrait of her.
Amazing how little damage the whole Gaddafi thing did to LSE's reputation.
St. Andrews will be top of the table next year, if @Leon’s daughter has her father’s elevated IQ.
Just across the Tay from the 'dee. I hope Leon is not encouraging the carrying of knives and axes.
Dundee did pretty well too in a recent league table (might have been the Graun one).
I imagine it's largely the video game education that they provide? The art school also has a decent rep I think.
A bit niche but they always seem to be the go-to on archeology and crime docs when they need bones studied and skulls “brought to life” so they are either great at forensic archaeology or a bit twisted.
Down to Sue Black probably who was prof of forensic anthropology and anatomy in Dundee for 15 years. My pal painted this portrait of her.
Is she the one under the shroud?
No, it’s an interpretation of Your Party through the medium of painting.
Amazing how little damage the whole Gaddafi thing did to LSE's reputation.
St. Andrews will be top of the table next year, if @Leon’s daughter has her father’s elevated IQ.
Just across the Tay from the 'dee. I hope Leon is not encouraging the carrying of knives and axes.
Dundee did pretty well too in a recent league table (might have been the Graun one).
I imagine it's largely the video game education that they provide? The art school also has a decent rep I think.
A bit niche but they always seem to be the go-to on archeology and crime docs when they need bones studied and skulls “brought to life” so they are either great at forensic archaeology or a bit twisted.
Down to Sue Black probably who was prof of forensic anthropology and anatomy in Dundee for 15 years. My pal painted this portrait of her.
Is she the one under the shroud?
She was a sad loss when she moved on. She was also a great public speaker. She told the story of when she came back from Kosovo with a skull full of maggots from which she was going to try to identify the victim of a war crime. She came through customs at Glasgow with it and decided she should really go through the red channel. The weary officer asked her, "is it for your own use?"
This suggests why we rely to such a foolish extent on foreign investment. Why are we allowing overseas investors to buy boring old utilities, for example, when they would be a very good vehicle for relatively low risk, inflation protected investment ?
Folk in the UK put £103bln into ISAs last year, £69.5bln of that (approx 2/3rds) went into cash ISAs...essentially, guaranteeing a near-zero, if not negative, real return on those funds over the next year...so much more financial education needed across the board... https://x.com/MrMBrown/status/1968904613987279317
Dividends would remain onshore, rather than adding to our long term balance of payments deficit.
Its especially wasteful as its never been easier or cheaper to invest in the stock market.
Though that also means its never been as easy or cheap to invest in foreign stock markets.
The government should set up a JISA and JSIPP for every baby and put £100 into each.
Like the Child Trust Fund vouchers? Whatever happened to those?
AOC: We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was. A man who believed that the civil rights act that granted black Americans the right to vote was a mistake… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans.
Mm. I'm not saying she's wrong, but a right wing politician in 2020 who started a speech "Let's be clear who George Floyd was" might have found their career shortened somewhat. I'm not sure AOC is taking a route which might reassure the sort of voters whom the Dems have lost over the last decade.
Interestingly, Charlie Kirk himself called George Floyd a 'scumbag'.
Didn't know that but I'd have guessed it.
Kirk's exact words were: "I am also going to offer some context and some nuance about the death of George Floyd that no one dares to say out loud. Which is that this guy was a scumbag. Now, does that mean he deserves to die? That's two totally different things — of course not." This was on Oct. 6, 2021. So over a year afterwards.
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
The only clip of him I've seen was some hackneyed trad-macho nonsense about "only beta guys split the bill on a date." He seemed like a bit of a dick tbh. But I guess that's no barrier to maga stardom.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
I detest splitting the bill on any occasion. I just find it unspeakably crass. I have paid for dinner for six (including me) more than once to avoid it. Obviously if it's more than that my scruples have to bow to my bank balance.
I like both paying in full and not paying at all. Worst, from an aesthetic and faff perspective, is divvying up. It's the worst sort of sterile centrism. But it's not 'beta'. That sort of alpha v beta trad-macho talk is one of the worst features of the online maga right. They think it's edgy and cool and a little bit transgressive, but it's a pile of old wank.
Comments
Went to a Greek takeout stall for lunch. £9.99 was loudly signed as the price (expensive but I was hungry and in a hurry).
Got the bill and they had added a £2 cover charge.
Bastards
https://x.com/antisemitism/status/1968985965596168248
'When Parliament and the BBC ignore the Government’s conclusion that genocide is not taking place, but give obsessive, wall-to-wall coverage to claims by the United Nations, they fuel hostility against the world’s only Jewish state and, in turn, against British Jews.
As Lord Austin rightly said, portraying Israel as uniquely evil drives antisemitism here in Britain, because Jews are overwhelmingly identified with Israel. That is why 70,000 people felt compelled to march with us outside the BBC and Parliament. This should be a source of profound shame for our legislators and our national broadcaster.'
Is this in part a consequence of the BBC merging its national and international news teams?
That doesn't seem unreasonable and well after the fact.
I believe a more legitimate criticism is he has brought up things in relation to the case that have been later found to be untrue e.g. one claim that went viral was the pregnant woman story, Floyd definitely threatened to kill a woman and held a gun to her stomach. It appears unproven if actually pregnant.
Given the 26 billion hours of Kirk debate footage it isn't surprising that you can find something you don't like. I only had a cursory knowledge of the guy, having watched some of the footage, I find it hard to agree with lots of his very "strict" takes on things.
All those picked up in the Channel will be immediately assigned apprenticeship places on board RN ships outbound for long cruises.
The Conservative leader said Sir Keir was “incapable of leading Britain on the world stage” and accused him of “economic self-sabotage” in the face of global threats by implementing net zero.
In an essay for The Telegraph on her foreign policy plans, Mrs Badenoch condemned the Government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state in an attempt to put pressure on Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.
She said the Conservatives would “never apologise for standing by Israel when it strikes back against terrorism” and accused Sir Keir of being “nice” to hostile foreign powers.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/09/19/badenoch-starmer-palestinian-state-rewards-terrorism/
https://x.com/FT/status/1968961448370934186
Nobody in the UK will back these start-ups with the amount required, so yet again will be eaten up by US tech companies. For Nvidia they can't really lose in a way, they put money in and Wayve buy loads of Nvidia products.
It's been nearly 2 years since the horrendous Hamas attacks and Israel continues to collectively punish the people of Gaza. It's right that there are consequences for this. If anything, I'd argue recognising Palestine is too symbolic and more concrete measures should be taken against the current Israeli government.
I imagine something will emerge from it, but a party is harder than a movement.
I was coincidentally talking to a friend about LSE - good. mad, but not of the first rank was I think the conclusion as to their graduates.
Interesting that Bath continues to look good.
So I don't think you are going to see LSE and Durham and St Andrews rejects after interview heading for Oxbridge just yet
Funny because if Sunak had actually being running a real venture capital fund and had a 75% hit rate, he would be the best investor in startups ever. By an order of magnitude.
Of course, it wasn’t a start fund up in that sense
In the U.K. the idea of the 1% punt that pays for the other 99% just doesn’t happened.
Edit so as not to get cancelled - his murder was a terrible crime and a tragedy, no ifs or buts.
He's hoping we're the one** for his fund!
* out of 20 to 30
** or one of two, he has a very exciting space tech investment that's also doing very well
I would say pure grift, but we have seen plenty of people go quite mental after too much time on the internet.
Admittedly this involves a) killing thousands of unarmed civilians and b) no released hostages, but still..
The actions of Hamas do not give the Israeli government a blank cheque without consequence. It is not zero sum. Quiet diplomacy has clearly not worked, so it's past time we should stay taking stronger measures.
Here in the US, I know lots of families that fled Persia when the Shah was overthrown and the Mullahs took over. Some of them, forty years later (and as American citizens), are willing to make trips to Iran to see long-lost families.
And you think... well, a quarter century forty five years has passed, you're now American, there were US hostages in Tehran then, and not now, fair enough.
But to do it within a couple of years is just taking the piss.
OK, that means that few people get accepted, but also that obviously bad causes don't get rejected?
Oxford
St Andrew's
Cambridge
LSE
Durham
Imperial
Warwick
Bath
Arts London
UCL
Nine out of ten the same but the order different.
I doubt if either list means much.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2025/sep/13/the-guardian-university-guide-2026-the-rankings
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/09/19/spitting-image-taylor-swift-jd-vance-meghan-trump-king/
The clips on YouTube weren't very good. It felt last time they tried a reboot its time had passed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0003wx2
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07947hz
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000h4kr
I think some people (like @Leon) just see conspiracy everywhere. And sometimes they're right. But most of the time, Hanlon's razer applies.
*When hell freezes over.
A few years of passive vaping has destroyed my senses of taste & smell and is getting to my lungs.
I would imagine for you the worst scenario is somebody agrees to get all the bill on their and then cash comes out to settle up between the guests....
But that's just like the case of the Persians who head over to Iran from the US.
It is clearly not the case for Afghani citizens who have claimed asylum in the UK and then gone on holiday to Afghanistan.
https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-occupation-update-september-19-2025-2/
Something that should be getting much more attention.
Why are we allowing overseas investors to buy boring old utilities, for example, when they would be a very good vehicle for relatively low risk, inflation protected investment ?
Folk in the UK put £103bln into ISAs last year, £69.5bln of that (approx 2/3rds) went into cash ISAs...essentially, guaranteeing a near-zero, if not negative, real return on those funds over the next year...so much more financial education needed across the board...
https://x.com/MrMBrown/status/1968904613987279317
Dividends would remain onshore, rather than adding to our long term balance of payments deficit.
The BBC has done less well in covering Sudan, a horrific war, and has done little to convey the complex reality of the internal and external interests and forces at work. They have also, understandably, done less well in the Ukraine war, especially on the subject of the Russian case (with which I disagree of course) for the Russianisation of at least part of Ukraine.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/terror-and-security/putin-sends-squads-of-sick-soldiers-into-pokrovsk-meat-grin/
Dundee does really well on student satisfaction, mainly because there is a lot of dirt cheap accommodation in the city and the social life for students is good. The scoring on the academic performance of their courses (with exceptions like medicine) is less inspiring.
The evening after the night before in Newham and another huge win for the Newham Independents in Plaistow South, routing Labour and confirming themselves as the official opposition on the council.
There's a good analysis of what happened from Open Newham:
https://www.opennewham.co.uk/news/plaistow-south-the-results-are-in
The numbers (Newham Independents 44%, Labour 21%) compare with the by-election in Plaistow North in November 2023 when Sophia Naqvi won 46% for the Independents against 27% for Labour.
I thought, at 16%, the Reform figure was impressive and the Greens, LDs and Conservatives all saw big drops in vote shares.
What does this mean for May 2026? Open Newham suggests the Independents should win Plaistow North, Plaistow South and Boleyn (where they have won by elections) and the Green Street East and West Wards giving them 15 on the new council. I'd go further and add East Ham, Plashet and Little Ilford as Wards which the Newham Independents must have a strong chance of winning and that's 23 seats.
The questions are many - first, will Newham Independents stand a full slate of 66 candidates (plus a Mayoral candidate) and in how many Wards will they campaign? There are some parts of Newham with more Hindus than Muslims such as Wall End and Custom House while the Greens are entrenched in Stratford.
The two Forest Gate Wards (5 seats) look a fascinating clash between Labour, the Independents and the Greens and it's hard to see how they will go currently - it could be the Greens and Independents split the anti-Labour vote but the strong perfomance of Reform in Plaistow South makes me wonder whether a) Reform will field a full slate of candidates and b) the impact they might have in some of the less Muslim areas such as the aforementioned Wall End, Custom House and Canning Town.
The Greens may try to win Royal Victoria and West Ham to broaden their base beyond Stratford.
We also have a Mayoral contest to succeed the disastrous Councillor Fiaz - I imagine the Newham Independents will want to put up a strong candidate against Labour while the Greens will also be in the contest.
The complete and total irrelevance of both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats is laid bare - it will be interesting to see whether the Conservatives can even put up a full slate of candidates (the LDs won't).
And the loss aversion thing is strong, which limits us all.
I’m hoping that these days with the internet students can research it themselves and find best options but I imagine there are still plenty going for bigger name universities and then losing out on specialised jobs to people who had the info on where was a good conveyor belt.
Back in the mists of time, when maths was witchfraft and magic, I remember Warwick being considered one of the best in the world for certain “types” of maths courses but people insisting on going to Oxford or Cambridge for the cachet, which is fair enough, but it does end up warping the system.
Though that also means its never been as easy or cheap to invest in foreign stock markets.
The government should set up a JISA and JSIPP for every baby and put £100 into each.