I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
I'd increase it to about £15k to eliminate pensioner poverty but apply a private pension/earnings taper at 50%.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
Just as with car finance a lot of this is to do with expectations. I am bombarded daily with adverts on social media telling me that "anyone can retire early at 50 if they just follow these three simple steps".
Social Media is rotting our brains and destroying democracy. I would ban online advertising. They would force a radical change in business model for social media that would stop a lot of the brain rot.
Surely there is a remarkable and important opportunity here for the Nobel committee?
Announce now that if the peace in Gaza holds until next October then Trump will be the winner of the prize in 2026.
And then take it a step further and announce that if the peace results in a two state solution and that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has finished by October 2027*, then Trump will become the first person to win the Nobel Peace Prize twice.
Trump is a transactional President and they have the thing in the world he covets most at the moment. Charge him!
*I think that would need better drafting. Otherwise he might send Putin a couple of F16 squadrons, and sanction Ukraine.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
Just as with car finance a lot of this is to do with expectations. I am bombarded daily with adverts on social media telling me that "anyone can retire early at 50 if they just follow these three simple steps".
Social Media is rotting our brains and destroying democracy. I would ban online advertising. They would force a radical change in business model for social media that would stop a lot of the brain rot.
Banning online advertising is a bit of a luddite move. However when people talk about how to replace fuel duty I can think of no better candidate than social media duty.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 14 and conscript 14 to 18 year olds into the Army to fight in Ukraine and the Middle East, we could also reduce the education bill. That would also enable your personal tax rate to reduce.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
I did quite a bit of voluntary work after I retired. Still do a bit, in fact.
Have a good morning everyone. I'm off to a 'retired persons' social group.
Surely there is a remarkable and important opportunity here for the Nobel committee?
Announce now that if the peace in Gaza holds until next October then Trump will be the winner of the prize in 2026.
And then take it a step further and announce that if the peace results in a two state solution and that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has finished by October 2027*, then Trump will become the first person to win the Nobel Peace Prize twice.
Trump is a transactional President and they have the thing in the world he covets most at the moment. Charge him!
*I think that would need better drafting. Otherwise he might send Putin a couple of F16 squadrons, and sanction Ukraine.
Ha, sure. But I actually think that statement would result in a significantly higher chance of peace over the next few years. It is indeed a remarkable opportunity.
It should be pointed out though the state pension is now significantly below minimum wage, so if you don't means test it a lot of poor pensioners who have no significant private pension would be hit by scrapping the triple lock if they rely on the state pension
And so they should be.
If this country doesn't have some poor pensioners then it has its priorities wrong.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 14 and conscript 14 to 18 year olds into the Army to fight in Ukraine and the Middle East, we could also reduce the education bill. That would also enable your personal tax rate to reduce.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 11 we could close all the state secondary schools and send the children up chimneys to clean them?
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
The nomination deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize is January 31st of each year. The committee then gives itself eight months to decide between the nominees.
It should have been obvious that Trump wouldn't win it this year, and it's in no way a judgement on what he did or did not achieve, or any supposed bias on the part of the committee.
Do we even know if he was nominated before the deadline?
Yes, multiple times. Check (eg) Politico over the last year. It's pretty well automatic for world leaders, especially those with a touch of narcissism. I remember being told by his then PA that Heath was nominated annually.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
There should be a Nobel Prize for an outstanding contribution to the ammunition industry by increasing wars and production volume; Trump would be a shoo-in for that one.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
BY the same token the workplace has to value older people too. One of the reasons I retired early was I did not feel valued. They’ve learned the hard way I actually did contribute far more than they thought.
I get my state pension in six and a half years. My pension planning and savings was based on that.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 14 and conscript 14 to 18 year olds into the Army to fight in Ukraine and the Middle East, we could also reduce the education bill. That would also enable your personal tax rate to reduce.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 11 we could close all the state secondary schools and send the children up chimneys to clean them?
I may have inadvertently started a four Yorkshiremen competition.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
But I'd now say that Foxy is probably more correct with 'cuckold' which makes even better sense.
That was when Starmer was still Corbyn's best friend who would never betray the far left Labour membership.
You'll be saying that he's the most cynically dishonest politician in living memory with no courage, integrity or principles next.
It is surprising how Starmer and Trump seemingly get on so well. In Trump’s first term, Sir Keir was pretty rude about the Donald personally rather than just critucal of his policies. I always wonder whether Trump is stringing him along so as to humiliate him later.
No, I dont think so. Trump doesn't have that sort of strategic cunning. Starmer seems to be good at only one thing and that is diplomacy.
He could have been a really good Foreign Secretary rather than a really crap Prime Minister in another life.
The Election Calculus Map looks like some sort of infection breaking out but stopping / being stopped somewhere north of the M62.
Not even stopped there, EC projects Reform to near sweep the North East and most of Cumbria and even win 4 Reform MPs in Scotland. Only in inner London and other inner cities is the Reform march really stopped
Quite a proposition, really. On the showing to date, a Reform win will produce a cabinet, government, parliament full of people who pack up & go home quite shortly after being elected.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
The nomination deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize is January 31st of each year. The committee then gives itself eight months to decide between the nominees.
It should have been obvious that Trump wouldn't win it this year, and it's in no way a judgement on what he did or did not achieve, or any supposed bias on the part of the committee.
Do we even know if he was nominated before the deadline?
Yes, multiple times. Check (eg) Politico over the last year. It's pretty well automatic for world leaders, especially those with a touch of narcissism. I remember being told by his then PA that Heath was nominated annually.
Gosh, really? I had no conception of so many powerful people being so needy.
The eight-month period between close of nominations and decision now looks a lot more reasonable.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
I did quite a bit of voluntary work after I retired. Still do a bit, in fact.
Have a good morning everyone. I'm off to a 'retired persons' social group.
The Election Calculus Map looks like some sort of infection breaking out but stopping / being stopped somewhere north of the M62.
Not even stopped there, EC projects Reform to near sweep the North East and most of Cumbria and even win 4 Reform MPs in Scotland. Only in inner London and other inner cities is the Reform march really stopped
Quite a proposition, really. On the showing to date, a Reform win will produce a cabinet, government, parliament full of people who pack up & go home quite shortly after being elected.
Good morning, everyone.
Seems to me that the media is doing its normal thing of building people up only to smash them again. The sort of Glenda Slagg joke you see so often in the past. But the joke is probably more on the Conservatives trying to follow Reform into the media's blind alley.
It should be pointed out though the state pension is now significantly below minimum wage, so if you don't means test it a lot of poor pensioners who have no significant private pension would be hit by scrapping the triple lock if they rely on the state pension
Well, that’s too bad. There’s no reason to increase the State pension in real terms.
Electoral Calculus/PLMR/Find Out Now in June found vastly higher Reform seat totals than YG and More In Common and again, in this one which is contemporaneous with YG, MiC and Survations latest MRPs finds anything from 72 more (vs Mic) to 152 more (vs Survation, a quarter of all GB seats). Its Tactical Voting output of 377 Reform, 117 Lab, 58 LD, 42 SNP, 24 Con is rather closer to its June output (which was a bigoutluer against YG and MiC)
If you believe Find Out Now are nailing vote share better then at least the Tactocal Voting result should be considered a reasonable snapshot as we stand. However 152 seats difference in 2 polls in the same period..... the idea MRP is 'more accurate' is for the birds.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 14 and conscript 14 to 18 year olds into the Army to fight in Ukraine and the Middle East, we could also reduce the education bill. That would also enable your personal tax rate to reduce.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 11 we could close all the state secondary schools and send the children up chimneys to clean them?
I may have inadvertently started a four Yorkshiremen competition.
When i were a lad there were only zero Yorkshiremen. (just to avoid 3 further posts)
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
BY the same token the workplace has to value older people too. One of the reasons I retired early was I did not feel valued. They’ve learned the hard way I actually did contribute far more than they thought.
I get my state pension in six and a half years. My pension planning and savings was based on that.
I get my state pension in about fifteen years. My pension planning and savings is based on not getting my state pension!
“Disarmament is going to be the big thing,” says the former official. “It’s easy to do a token disarmament but real disarmament is what would change the mood of Hamas from passive acceptance to active resistance.”
Anarchy would be an improvement on being ruled by Hamas.
Hopefully Hamas follow through with disarmament, which is a part of the 20 point plan they surrendered to.
If they don't, then they should be disarmed by force, with the conflict resuming if necessary, until they do follow through. At least the hostages will be free by that point.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 14 and conscript 14 to 18 year olds into the Army to fight in Ukraine and the Middle East, we could also reduce the education bill. That would also enable your personal tax rate to reduce.
There was the Alan Sillitoe novel Travels in Nihilon - his take on Utopia and Erewhon. Nihilon IIRC had OAPs conscripted to the front to save on pensions.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 14 and conscript 14 to 18 year olds into the Army to fight in Ukraine and the Middle East, we could also reduce the education bill. That would also enable your personal tax rate to reduce.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 11 we could close all the state secondary schools and send the children up chimneys to clean them?
I may have inadvertently started a four Yorkshiremen competition.
When i were a lad there were only zero Yorkshiremen. (just to avoid 3 further posts)
{prybars open double case of Château De Chasseliers}
When I ‘twere ‘lad there were minus 8 million Yorkshiremen. We ‘ad to do jobs for all. An’ pay for privilege.
I can't help but feel that this PR agency poll is a smashing piece of business for them. Pay for a Big Poll. Because Big Polls are more accurate. Produce DRAMATIC results. Use said results as a reason for more people to become clients and invest more often...
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
If we reduce the school leaving age to 14 and conscript 14 to 18 year olds into the Army to fight in Ukraine and the Middle East, we could also reduce the education bill. That would also enable your personal tax rate to reduce.
There was the Alan Sillitoe novel Travels in Nihilon - his take on Utopia and Erewhon. Nihilon IIRC had OAPs conscripted to the front to save on pensions.
There is some precedent. Anyone took Chelsea Pensioners as troops on his round the world expedition.
It didn't work well, which is why the Royal Marines were created.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
But I'd now say that Foxy is probably more correct with 'cuckold' which makes even better sense.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
But I'd now say that Foxy is probably more correct with 'cuckold' which makes even better sense.
Cuckold is derived from cuckoo of course
Anyone who uses the term cuck is cuckoo themselves of course.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
This all has something of an echo of famous 1930s torchlit parades, where I think it was Albert Speer who remarked that it was a brilliant idea to avoid display of how unheroic the middleaged marhers looked.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
BY the same token the workplace has to value older people too. One of the reasons I retired early was I did not feel valued. They’ve learned the hard way I actually did contribute far more than they thought.
I get my state pension in six and a half years. My pension planning and savings was based on that.
I get my state pension in about fifteen years. My pension planning and savings is based on not getting my state pension!
When I was in your shoes, about a decade ago. That was not a likely prospect for me. If it was I’d have planned accordingly.
It needs to be sustainable and the triple lock needs to go.
The Election Calculus Map looks like some sort of infection breaking out but stopping / being stopped somewhere north of the M62.
Not even stopped there, EC projects Reform to near sweep the North East and most of Cumbria and even win 4 Reform MPs in Scotland. Only in inner London and other inner cities is the Reform march really stopped
Quite a proposition, really. On the showing to date, a Reform win will produce a cabinet, government, parliament full of people who pack up & go home quite shortly after being elected.
Good morning, everyone.
That doesn't sound too bad actually.
Better than Reform MPs actually hanging around Parliament and passing laws.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
The nomination deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize is January 31st of each year. The committee then gives itself eight months to decide between the nominees.
It should have been obvious that Trump wouldn't win it this year, and it's in no way a judgement on what he did or did not achieve, or any supposed bias on the part of the committee.
Do we even know if he was nominated before the deadline?
Yes, multiple times. Check (eg) Politico over the last year. It's pretty well automatic for world leaders, especially those with a touch of narcissism. I remember being told by his then PA that Heath was nominated annually.
Gosh, really? I had no conception of so many powerful people being so needy.
The eight-month period between close of nominations and decision now looks a lot more reasonable.
On average, I'd guess they're slightly more needy than the rest of us. And quite a lot more absurd.
The Election Calculus Map looks like some sort of infection breaking out but stopping / being stopped somewhere north of the M62.
Not even stopped there, EC projects Reform to near sweep the North East and most of Cumbria and even win 4 Reform MPs in Scotland. Only in inner London and other inner cities is the Reform march really stopped
Quite a proposition, really. On the showing to date, a Reform win will produce a cabinet, government, parliament full of people who pack up & go home quite shortly after being elected.
Good morning, everyone.
That doesn't sound too bad actually.
Better than Reform MPs actually hanging around Parliament and passing laws.
We might end up with a government of all the other parties combined by accident rather than design.
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
I did quite a bit of voluntary work after I retired. Still do a bit, in fact.
Have a good morning everyone. I'm off to a 'retired persons' social group.
Judging by the ads I see, most retired persons seem to blow their ill-gotten wealth on cruises.
In doing so, they are also contributing to the rapid growth of one of the most polluting and environmentally-unfriendly of all business sectors.
But, at least, they get to see some penguins or polar bears before the respective ice caps melt, and they become extinct.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
The state pension is an important part of the social contract. It’s for that reason I don’t believe it should be fully means tested on availability.
I do believe that there should be a much lower level to the basic state pension however, with top up support as required (the million dollar question there being how someone is eligible for what, of course).
At the time pensions were introduced they were to ensure that people who could no longer work were not in complete destitution. Over time the meaning has started to distort, to what is now essentially viewed by many as a “thank you” payment for working.
I think there’s something in people feeling that their contribution has been valued, but it doesn’t mean giving significant extra money to some that don’t need it.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
That was when Starmer was still Corbyn's best friend who would never betray the far left Labour membership.
You'll be saying that he's the most cynically dishonest politician in living memory with no courage, integrity or principles next.
It is surprising how Starmer and Trump seemingly get on so well. In Trump’s first term, Sir Keir was pretty rude about the Donald personally rather than just critucal of his policies. I always wonder whether Trump is stringing him along so as to humiliate him later.
his constant butt licking is probably enough for tango man
Very good video. An extended interview with the prosecutor Jack Smith who is one of Trump's targets. He was the prosecutor for the Florida stolen documents cases.
He covers his previous work at the International Criminal Court.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
That's the advantage of being a MAGA and the world of alternative truths. In his mind he is most definitely the alpha.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
That's the advantage of being a MAGA and the world of alternative truths. In his mind he is most definitely the alpha.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
The state pension is an important part of the social contract. It’s for that reason I don’t believe it should be fully means tested on availability.
I do believe that there should be a much lower level to the basic state pension however, with top up support as required (the million dollar question there being how someone is eligible for what, of course).
At the time pensions were introduced they were to ensure that people who could no longer work were not in complete destitution. Over time the meaning has started to distort, to what is now essentially viewed by many as a “thank you” payment for working.
I think there’s something in people feeling that their contribution has been valued, but it doesn’t mean giving significant extra money to some that don’t need it.
You may well be right but DO NOT underestimate the impact of what people consider "fair".
By which I mean, "Why should so-and-so, whose lazed around all his life, or spent all his money on fags and beer, be entitled to a higher state pension or benefits than me, who has worked all my life?"
To wine bar habitues in W1 perhaps not an issue - they don't have benefits dependents living down the street - but to folk in more marginal areas there would be a burning sense of injustice.
A change like that would be politically devastating. And catnip to the populists.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
He may be somewhat right on fitness, but Hegseth himself is not a real man.
Very good video. An extended interview with the prosecutor Jack Smith who is one of Trump's targets. He was the prosecutor for the Florida stolen documents cases.
He covers his previous work at the International Criminal Court.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
I bet he would ace Whiskey Pete's military PT requirement.
Very good video. An extended interview with the prosecutor Jack Smith who is one of Trump's targets. He was the prosecutor for the Florida stolen documents cases.
He covers his previous work at the International Criminal Court.
This is the sort of lawlessness that happens when Al Capone is elected President.
I've just finished listening - he's very "Victorian Civil Service" in his values. "As prosecutor I did not know what my teams' politics were; it was not relevant to our work."
It's a neutral, "process" state where the neutral process is a guarantee and a defence.
Cops probing collapse of betting syndicate led by spin doctor Alastair Campbell’s son make arrest Some backers are said to have lost up to £500,000 ... Last night, police confirmed a man had been arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation relating to a betting syndicate.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
That's the advantage of being a MAGA and the world of alternative truths. In his mind he is most definitely the alpha.
The last thing that you can still be rude about - weight. I see a lad who has taken care of his appearance - hair is well cut and under control, he's clean shaven and wearing a nice suit that fits his, admittedly somewhat large, frame.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
Always a career ahead as a double for Kim Jong Un.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
I bet he would ace Whiskey Pete's military PT requirement.
So personal abuse is okay as long as it’s a political opponent.
Yeah, he’s packing a few extra pounds. So what.
Lots of unpleasant comments aimed at, or subtly about, his physique.
I’m sure his politics is worth criticising but his appearance/physique ?
Question: Do I want to upgrade my iPhone 15 Pro Max for a 17 Pro Max? £480 trade in is tempting - will I be able to keep it in tradable condition for another year...?
New cameras will be useful for filming, especially the selfie camera as I use that a lot. Then again there is literally nothing wrong with it...
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
Obama won it for something that never happened at all.
"Not being Dubya" happened...
Being the first Black 'leader of the free world' happened.
You keep saying this but not being George Bush fits the facts better (consider Bush's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the axis of evil, and America's withdrawal from the anti ballistic missile treaty) and is also what was said at the time.
Question: Do I want to upgrade my iPhone 15 Pro Max for a 17 Pro Max? £480 trade in is tempting - will I be able to keep it in tradable condition for another year...?
New cameras will be useful for filming, especially the selfie camera as I use that a lot. Then again there is literally nothing wrong with it...
If it’s a business expense for your media work then it’s probably worth doing, but as a personal expense there’s really only incremental differences.
Mr Eagles will disagree with me, he’ll say it’s a million times better than last year’s model in order to justify his own extravagance.
On the Politico story, on the chat (250 pages of it) amongst "Young Republicans", I notice the following:
- This is fairly senior people, as the age group is under 40, not eg under 25, and involves State Leaders of the organisation and similar, and eg State Senators. That is their version of County or Regional level leaders here, or County Councillors.
- That is the group who are the next generations of Representatives at State and National level.
- In the USA it's a tradition that has always been there in groups such at the KKK, John Birch Society and any number of groups before or since - white supremacy, mysogyny, hatred of gay/lesbians, ditto Jews, ditto Muslims, and the rest. To me this is a further indicator of how deep and wide this is amongst Republicans - much more imo than previously, and questions whether there is a way back. - - OTOH there is still a degree of "this is unacceptable", so it is either a genuine view, or a trimming for PR reasons which recognises outside influence.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
That's the advantage of being a MAGA and the world of alternative truths. In his mind he is most definitely the alpha.
The last thing that you can still be rude about - weight. I see a lad who has taken care of his appearance - hair is well cut and under control, he's clean shaven and wearing a nice suit that fits his, admittedly somewhat large, frame.
Yeah, I’ve put up with comments about my weight from shits I worked with who said it was only ‘banter’ in my career.
I’m not massive but I’m not svelte.
People who abuse you or cause you problems at work and then say it is banter are the scum of the earth.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
I bet he would ace Whiskey Pete's military PT requirement.
So personal abuse is okay as long as it’s a political opponent.
Yeah, he’s packing a few extra pounds. So what.
Lots of unpleasant comments aimed at, or subtly about, his physique.
I’m sure his politics is worth criticising but his appearance/physique ?
If MAGA are going after fat people in the military then they can't complain if they are held to the same standards.
It's a nonsense really. All you need is an Xbox controller to rain death from a drone or drop sonobuoys into the Atlantic. I've got a faster 5K than most people in the RAF/RN and could easily pass the Army basic fitness test, and I'm an office worker.
Question: Do I want to upgrade my iPhone 15 Pro Max for a 17 Pro Max? £480 trade in is tempting - will I be able to keep it in tradable condition for another year...?
New cameras will be useful for filming, especially the selfie camera as I use that a lot. Then again there is literally nothing wrong with it...
Interested in the replies as this is something my wife and I are considering.
It should be pointed out though the state pension is now significantly below minimum wage, so if you don't means test it a lot of poor pensioners who have no significant private pension would be hit by scrapping the triple lock if they rely on the state pension
Well, that’s too bad. There’s no reason to increase the State pension in real terms.
It should certainly increase in line with inflation, even if the triple lock was ended
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
I bet he would ace Whiskey Pete's military PT requirement.
So personal abuse is okay as long as it’s a political opponent.
Yeah, he’s packing a few extra pounds. So what.
Lots of unpleasant comments aimed at, or subtly about, his physique.
I’m sure his politics is worth criticising but his appearance/physique ?
In one sense that's a fair criticism. But the context of this is that's it's one of the crew in the Politico story. For example: ...“Minnesota - f----ts,” he messaged, continuing: “Arkansas - inbred cow fuckers Nebraska - revolt in our favor; blocked their bind and have a majority of their delegates Maryland - fat stinky Jew … Rhode Island - traitorous c---s who I will eradicate from the face of this planet...
I don't have a problem with fat politicians (Pritzker, for example, whose weight Trump regularly criticises, seems a quite admirable guy), but the cult of the physical is very much part of MAGA - which is why I posted the pic in response to the Hegseth story.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
I bet he would ace Whiskey Pete's military PT requirement.
So personal abuse is okay as long as it’s a political opponent.
Yeah, he’s packing a few extra pounds. So what.
Lots of unpleasant comments aimed at, or subtly about, his physique.
I’m sure his politics is worth criticising but his appearance/physique ?
If MAGA are going after fat people in the military then they can't complain if they are held to the same standards.
It's a nonsense really. All you need is an Xbox controller to rain death from a drone or drop sonobuoys into the Atlantic. I've got a faster 5K than most people in the RAF/RN and could easily pass the Army basic fitness test, and I'm an office worker.
In the words of Alan Partridge, that was just a noise 😂😂😂😂
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
I bet he would ace Whiskey Pete's military PT requirement.
So personal abuse is okay as long as it’s a political opponent.
Yeah, he’s packing a few extra pounds. So what.
Lots of unpleasant comments aimed at, or subtly about, his physique.
I’m sure his politics is worth criticising but his appearance/physique ?
Western electorates are getting increasingly delusional with regard to public finances.
Debt/GDP is around 100% in most developed countries, and with interest rates around 5% that’s 5% of GDP just on the debt interest.
Add to the demographic time bomb and increasing life expectancy, and it’s unrealistic to be retiring at 65, let alone 60.
In the U.K. state pensions are going up by around 4.5% (can’t remember exact number) due to the triple lock.
Crazy
The whole idea of a state pension is ridiculous. It discourages private pension provision and distorts the labour market.
Many over-68s are perfectly capable of working so why should they be paid £12k a year to sit around doing nothing? We have far too many entitled layabouts in this country as it is. A relative of mine just retired at 79 and one of his colleagues famously was still working at 105 (!).
Pensions should be merged with incapacity benefit and the rules tightened up. People should only qualify once old age makes them genuinely incapable of working, not just too lazy to work, any more.
The triple lock is indefensible, but I'm doubtful about everyone working till they drop (not sure if you're making a serious suggestion, but assuming yes). At 75 I'd be quite capable of some work, but my memory is patchy; others of my age have various physical problems. Would we do the available work better than unemplyed younger people? Doubtful.
What would be really helpful would be a system encouraging gradual retirement, rather than an on/off system. That could be combined with incentives to carry on working, so that the pension increased with fewer years expected to be claimed. For a start, though, increasing it to 70 except where there's a clear medical reason why not does make sense.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
Obama won it for something that never happened at all.
"Not being Dubya" happened...
Being the first Black 'leader of the free world' happened.
You keep saying this but not being George Bush fits the facts better (consider Bush's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the axis of evil, and America's withdrawal from the anti ballistic missile treaty) and is also what was said at the time.
Why does that fit the facts better? I was alive at the time too. The palpable sense that a black man could be the US president was huge. I have no doubt that many dressed it up as because of his politics, but I think a large driving force was his ethnicity.
Oxford student suspended over ‘put Zios in the ground’ chant ... ... a chant that we’ve been workshopping in Oxford that maybe you guys want to join in.
Ignoring the antisemitism thing and the failure to keep up with the whole ceasefire and peace news thing, Oxford should sling out all the over-educated muppets who workshopped rhyming proud with ground.
Question: Do I want to upgrade my iPhone 15 Pro Max for a 17 Pro Max? £480 trade in is tempting - will I be able to keep it in tradable condition for another year...?
New cameras will be useful for filming, especially the selfie camera as I use that a lot. Then again there is literally nothing wrong with it...
The answer to this question is more about how much money you have available overall, and how many other potential expenses you might have, or purchases you might make, rather than on the narrow question of the utility/cost of the iPhone upgrade.
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
That's the advantage of being a MAGA and the world of alternative truths. In his mind he is most definitely the alpha.
The last thing that you can still be rude about - weight. I see a lad who has taken care of his appearance - hair is well cut and under control, he's clean shaven and wearing a nice suit that fits his, admittedly somewhat large, frame.
I'm not sure that's true actually. People are extremely touchy about weight and it's absolutely not acceptable to bring it up in the workplace or as a term of abuse.
That's a big part of the problem with weight - normalisation. It's an exceptionally serious problem that is hushed up - consider all the "no underlying health conditions" stories we saw during COVID and it turned out the patient was obese and their body was already under huge strain.
Very good video. An extended interview with the prosecutor Jack Smith who is one of Trump's targets. He was the prosecutor for the Florida stolen documents cases.
He covers his previous work at the International Criminal Court.
This is the sort of lawlessness that happens when Al Capone is elected President.
I've just finished listening - he's very "Victorian Civil Service" in his values. "As prosecutor I did not know what my teams' politics were; it was not relevant to our work."
It's a neutral, "process" state where the neutral process is a guarantee and a defence.
"How Clacton-on-Sea became one of Britain’s unhealthiest towns Nigel Farage’s constituency has the lowest life expectancy of anywhere in Britain – can health checks really avert the crisis?
Those who are failing so badly at organising the launch of Your Party approached us in Bristol a couple of weeks ago and asked us to book a venue that would hold 1-2k people for the regional assembly which was going to happen in 3 weeks time. They said book it and we'll pay
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
That's the advantage of being a MAGA and the world of alternative truths. In his mind he is most definitely the alpha.
The last thing that you can still be rude about - weight. I see a lad who has taken care of his appearance - hair is well cut and under control, he's clean shaven and wearing a nice suit that fits his, admittedly somewhat large, frame.
I'm not sure that's true actually. People are extremely touchy about weight and it's absolutely not acceptable to bring it up in the workplace or as a term of abuse.
That's a big part of the problem with weight - normalisation. It's an exceptionally serious problem that is hushed up - consider all the "no underlying health conditions" stories we saw during COVID and it turned out the patient was obese and their body was already under huge strain.
They might not do it in person but just now on PB people are laughing at this chap because if his weight. They wouldn't about his ethnicity or sex or height. (Actually if he was short some probably would, and that's even less fair).
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
That's the advantage of being a MAGA and the world of alternative truths. In his mind he is most definitely the alpha.
The last thing that you can still be rude about - weight. I see a lad who has taken care of his appearance - hair is well cut and under control, he's clean shaven and wearing a nice suit that fits his, admittedly somewhat large, frame.
I'm not sure that's true actually. People are extremely touchy about weight and it's absolutely not acceptable to bring it up in the workplace or as a term of abuse.
That's a big part of the problem with weight - normalisation. It's an exceptionally serious problem that is hushed up - consider all the "no underlying health conditions" stories we saw during COVID and it turned out the patient was obese and their body was already under huge strain.
It will be interesting to see if perceptions of weight change again as the various jabs become widespread.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
Obama won it for something that never happened at all.
"Not being Dubya" happened...
Being the first Black 'leader of the free world' happened.
You keep saying this but not being George Bush fits the facts better (consider Bush's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the axis of evil, and America's withdrawal from the anti ballistic missile treaty) and is also what was said at the time.
Why does that fit the facts better? I was alive at the time too. The palpable sense that a black man could be the US president was huge. I have no doubt that many dressed it up as because of his politics, but I think a large driving force was his ethnicity.
If it’s correct that the nominations close at the end of January, his only actual achievement before the nomination was to have been elected.
He was the young black guy, and not George Bush. That was it.
Of course there would be many continuing wars and wedding drone strikes during his Presidency, same as with any other President, so why did they give him the Peace Prize before he’d got his feet under the desk?
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
That's the advantage of being a MAGA and the world of alternative truths. In his mind he is most definitely the alpha.
The last thing that you can still be rude about - weight. I see a lad who has taken care of his appearance - hair is well cut and under control, he's clean shaven and wearing a nice suit that fits his, admittedly somewhat large, frame.
I'm not sure that's true actually. People are extremely touchy about weight and it's absolutely not acceptable to bring it up in the workplace or as a term of abuse.
That's a big part of the problem with weight - normalisation. It's an exceptionally serious problem that is hushed up - consider all the "no underlying health conditions" stories we saw during COVID and it turned out the patient was obese and their body was already under huge strain.
They might not do it in person but just now on PB people are laughing at this chap because if his weight. They wouldn't about his ethnicity or sex or height. (Actually if he was short some probably would, and that's even less fair).
Those aren't things you can change*. In 99% of cases your weight reflects your behaviour and comparing it to something like height or ethnicity is crass.
I doubt it, the fact the Nobel Committee nominated a Venezuelan pro democracy activist over Trump this year too makee that clear. Even if Trump brought peace between Ukraine and Russia next year and the Middle East peace held he likely would not be awarded the prize
TBF, even that doesn't need to be brought into consideration; the Nobel award committee met *before* the news from the ME (and pointed that out a little later).
Sure, but the committee had already made the point about the timing of the decision being before the peace agreement. You can't win a prize for something that happens after the committee decides, still less long after nominations close.
Obama won it for something that never happened at all.
"Not being Dubya" happened...
Being the first Black 'leader of the free world' happened.
You keep saying this but not being George Bush fits the facts better (consider Bush's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the axis of evil, and America's withdrawal from the anti ballistic missile treaty) and is also what was said at the time.
Why does that fit the facts better? I was alive at the time too. The palpable sense that a black man could be the US president was huge. I have no doubt that many dressed it up as because of his politics, but I think a large driving force was his ethnicity.
Because we are trying to explain why Obama was given the Nobel peace prize, not why he was elected President (where race absolutely was a factor).
Beta = lower status male, as opposed to alpha; wimpy, uses oat milk and eats vegan scones at NT cafes as opposed to raw steaks Cuck = cuckoo = allusion to the beta status male's wife being rogered by alpha males, I believe, with ensuing illegitimate offspring (yes, yes, I know, but those of a certain tendency probably don't spend their weekends birdwatching, or at least watching the feathered variety)
It's a very nasty insult when used in person.
Ouch. That’s quite comprehensive.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
Self-image vs actuality for Pete Hegseth?
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
Hegseth isn’t wrong, the old movie stereotype of the cops sitting in their car outside the donut shop does appear to have spread to certain areas of the military.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
Here's one of the young MAGA crowd in the Politico story.
I bet he would ace Whiskey Pete's military PT requirement.
So personal abuse is okay as long as it’s a political opponent.
Yeah, he’s packing a few extra pounds. So what.
Lots of unpleasant comments aimed at, or subtly about, his physique.
I’m sure his politics is worth criticising but his appearance/physique ?
In one sense that's a fair criticism. But the context of this is that's it's one of the crew in the Politico story. For example: ...“Minnesota - f----ts,” he messaged, continuing: “Arkansas - inbred cow fuckers Nebraska - revolt in our favor; blocked their bind and have a majority of their delegates Maryland - fat stinky Jew … Rhode Island - traitorous c---s who I will eradicate from the face of this planet...
I don't have a problem with fat politicians (Pritzker, for example, whose weight Trump regularly criticises, seems a quite admirable guy), but the cult of the physical is very much part of MAGA - which is why I posted the pic in response to the Hegseth story.
That was my not very well presented point too.
I am in no position to lecture anyone on a healthy diet and lifestyle. They call me SedentaryPete.
Comments
You could call it "Universal Pension".
Social Media is rotting our brains and destroying democracy. I would ban online advertising. They would force a radical change in business model for social media that would stop a lot of the brain rot.
Otherwise he might send Putin a couple of F16 squadrons, and sanction Ukraine.
Have a good morning everyone. I'm off to a 'retired persons' social group.
If this country doesn't have some poor pensioners then it has its priorities wrong.
So presumably swingers who go to dogging sites.
It's pretty well automatic for world leaders, especially those with a touch of narcissism. I remember being told by his then PA that Heath was nominated annually.
Putin has him beat on that one by a country mile.
I get my state pension in six and a half years. My pension planning and savings was based on that.
He could have been a really good Foreign Secretary rather than a really crap Prime Minister in another life.
Good morning, everyone.
The eight-month period between close of nominations and decision now looks a lot more reasonable.
Its Tactical Voting output of 377 Reform, 117 Lab, 58 LD, 42 SNP, 24 Con is rather closer to its June output (which was a bigoutluer against YG and MiC)
If you believe Find Out Now are nailing vote share better then at least the Tactocal Voting result should be considered a reasonable snapshot as we stand. However 152 seats difference in 2 polls in the same period..... the idea MRP is 'more accurate' is for the birds.
Anarchy would be an improvement on being ruled by Hamas.
Hopefully Hamas follow through with disarmament, which is a part of the 20 point plan they surrendered to.
If they don't, then they should be disarmed by force, with the conflict resuming if necessary, until they do follow through. At least the hostages will be free by that point.
Hopefully it doesn't come to that though.
When I ‘twere ‘lad there were minus 8 million Yorkshiremen. We ‘ad to do jobs for all. An’ pay for privilege.
It didn't work well, which is why the Royal Marines were created.
(Amusingly, on his "no fatties in the military" speech, they withdrew some Texas National Guard from their invasion of Chicago after some on social media published photos of the cowboy chunkers.
https://www.notus.org/illinois/texas-national-guard-troops-pulled-from-duty-in-illinois-for-failing-to-meet-fitness-standards )
This all has something of an echo of famous 1930s torchlit parades, where I think it was Albert Speer who remarked that it was a brilliant idea to avoid display of how unheroic the middleaged marhers looked.
It needs to be sustainable and the triple lock needs to go.
Better than Reform MPs actually hanging around Parliament and passing laws.
And quite a lot more absurd.
In doing so, they are also contributing to the rapid growth of one of the most polluting and environmentally-unfriendly of all business sectors.
But, at least, they get to see some penguins or polar bears before the respective ice caps melt, and they become extinct.
Those TX National Guard aren’t going to be chasing anyone, isn’t military service supposed to be about discipline and readiness? That bunch of fatties clearly isn’t passing any fitness test.
I do believe that there should be a much lower level to the basic state pension however, with top up support as required (the million dollar question there being how someone is eligible for what, of course).
At the time pensions were introduced they were to ensure that people who could no longer work were not in complete destitution. Over time the meaning has started to distort, to what is now essentially viewed by many as a “thank you” payment for working.
I think there’s something in people feeling that their contribution has been valued, but it doesn’t mean giving significant extra money to some that don’t need it.
PLMR had this as a Reform gain
He covers his previous work at the International Criminal Court.
The State of the United States: A Conversation with Jack Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR79GW6SvxE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImZKh3SqSmo (20mins)
https://x.com/dbw77/status/1977998923177263341?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
Not being Trump will presumably sweep the board for all the Nobels.
By which I mean, "Why should so-and-so, whose lazed around all his life, or spent all his money on fags and beer, be entitled to a higher state pension or benefits than me, who has worked all my life?"
To wine bar habitues in W1 perhaps not an issue - they don't have benefits dependents living down the street - but to folk in more marginal areas there would be a burning sense of injustice.
A change like that would be politically devastating. And catnip to the populists.
It's a neutral, "process" state where the neutral process is a guarantee and a defence.
Written report: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/14/politics/jack-smith-interview-special-counsel-justice-department-trump
Some backers are said to have lost up to £500,000
...
Last night, police confirmed a man had been arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation relating to a betting syndicate.
He has been bailed pending inquiries, but cannot be named for legal reasons.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/37003974/alastair-campbell-son-betting-syndicate-arrest/
The Sun (and other papers) have caught up with the rumours circulating yesterday, even on pb.
Yeah, he’s packing a few extra pounds. So what.
Lots of unpleasant comments aimed at, or subtly about, his physique.
I’m sure his politics is worth criticising but his appearance/physique ?
New cameras will be useful for filming, especially the selfie camera as I use that a lot. Then again there is literally nothing wrong with it...
Mr Eagles will disagree with me, he’ll say it’s a million times better than last year’s model in order to justify his own extravagance.
- This is fairly senior people, as the age group is under 40, not eg under 25, and involves State Leaders of the organisation and similar, and eg State Senators. That is their version of County or Regional level leaders here, or County Councillors.
- That is the group who are the next generations of Representatives at State and National level.
- In the USA it's a tradition that has always been there in groups such at the KKK, John Birch Society and any number of groups before or since - white supremacy, mysogyny, hatred of gay/lesbians, ditto Jews, ditto Muslims, and the rest. To me this is a further indicator of how deep and wide this is amongst Republicans - much more imo than previously, and questions whether there is a way back.
-
- OTOH there is still a degree of "this is unacceptable", so it is either a genuine view, or a trimming for PR reasons which recognises outside influence.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146?_sp_pass_consent=true
I’m not massive but I’m not svelte.
People who abuse you or cause you problems at work and then say it is banter are the scum of the earth.
It's a nonsense really. All you need is an Xbox controller to rain death from a drone or drop sonobuoys into the Atlantic. I've got a faster 5K than most people in the RAF/RN and could easily pass the Army basic fitness test, and I'm an office worker.
@GoodwinMJ
New polling.
Reform 30%
Labour 22%
Tories 20%
Source - More In Common
10-13 October 2025"
https://x.com/GoodwinMJ/status/1978403598569509051
But the context of this is that's it's one of the crew in the Politico story.
For example:
...“Minnesota - f----ts,” he messaged, continuing: “Arkansas - inbred cow fuckers Nebraska - revolt in our favor; blocked their bind and have a majority of their delegates Maryland - fat stinky Jew … Rhode Island - traitorous c---s who I will eradicate from the face of this planet...
I don't have a problem with fat politicians (Pritzker, for example, whose weight Trump regularly criticises, seems a quite admirable guy), but the cult of the physical is very much part of MAGA - which is why I posted the pic in response to the Hegseth story.
What would be really helpful would be a system encouraging gradual retirement, rather than an on/off system. That could be combined with incentives to carry on working, so that the pension increased with fewer years expected to be claimed. For a start, though, increasing it to 70 except where there's a clear medical reason why not does make sense.
I am guessing the Tories are a few points up from Reform. RefCon 50 is the higher end of the scale.
...
... a chant that we’ve been workshopping in Oxford that maybe you guys want to join in.
“It goes ‘Gaza, Gaza make us proud, put the Zios in the ground’.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/15/oxford-student-suspended-put-zios-in-the-ground-chant/ (£££)
PPE, Balliol.
Ignoring the antisemitism thing and the failure to keep up with the whole ceasefire and peace news thing, Oxford should sling out all the over-educated muppets who workshopped rhyming proud with ground.
That's a big part of the problem with weight - normalisation. It's an exceptionally serious problem that is hushed up - consider all the "no underlying health conditions" stories we saw during COVID and it turned out the patient was obese and their body was already under huge strain.
You can’t replace them with more process.
See Soviet courts & justice system - the constitution of the USSR was stuffed full of rights and protections.
Nigel Farage’s constituency has the lowest life expectancy of anywhere in Britain – can health checks really avert the crisis?
Lauren Shirreff
Health writer" (£)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/diet/nutrition/clacton-on-sea-britains-unhealthiest-towns
If you have some popcorn to hand and five minutes to spare then dive in:
Josh Connor
@errantlabour
Those who are failing so badly at organising the launch of Your Party approached us in Bristol a couple of weeks ago and asked us to book a venue that would hold 1-2k people for the regional assembly which was going to happen in 3 weeks time. They said book it and we'll pay
https://x.com/errantlabour/status/1978236961199423839
He was the young black guy, and not George Bush. That was it.
Of course there would be many continuing wars and wedding drone strikes during his Presidency, same as with any other President, so why did they give him the Peace Prize before he’d got his feet under the desk?
*I know, I know.
I am in no position to lecture anyone on a healthy diet and lifestyle. They call me SedentaryPete.