I remain interested but non-committal until after the conference. It's taken the opposite approach from Reform, which had Farage cheerily sketching policies off the cuff and modifying them as he went along - this one is determinedly member-led and consequently slow to lay down detailed policies. There are a host of regional conferences before the national one building up. We'll see...
Not tempted by Polanski's Green Party? He smashed it out of the park on #BBCQT last week, and this sort of Social Media presence is just what the country needs:
He's a bit too ready for anything, without much concern about the impact, but I'm impressed by his readiness to think outside the traditional Green agenda.
Believe in the science when it comes to climate change. Don't believe in the science when it comes to biology. Ignore the law despite losing court cases and having to pay damages to those whose rights my party has breached. Vote for us for incoherent nonsense.
Oh - and when one of my MPs (Sian Berry) issues a statement (last week) which blames the female victims of violence for the violence done to them by violent men - a version of "she was asking for it 'cos of the short skirt she was wearing" - I say nothing.
Is this the "readiness to think outside the traditional Green agenda "you're impressed by, Nick?
Although the Andrew story is important, I think the China story is far more important. So guess which one the media seems to be devoting more attention to.
I remain interested but non-committal until after the conference. It's taken the opposite approach from Reform, which had Farage cheerily sketching policies off the cuff and modifying them as he went along - this one is determinedly member-led and consequently slow to lay down detailed policies. There are a host of regional conferences before the national one building up. We'll see...
Not tempted by Polanski's Green Party? He smashed it out of the park on #BBCQT last week, and this sort of Social Media presence is just what the country needs:
He's a bit too ready for anything, without much concern about the impact, but I'm impressed by his readiness to think outside the traditional Green agenda.
Believe in the science when it comes to climate change. Don't believe in the science when it comes to biology. Ignore the law despite losing court cases and having to pay damages to those whose rights my party has breached. Vote for us for incoherent nonsense.
Oh - and when one of my MPs (Sian Berry) issues a statement (last week) which blames the female victims of violence for the violence done to them by violent men - a version of "she was asking for it 'cos of the short skirt she was wearing" - I say nothing.
Is this the "readiness to think outside the traditional Green agenda "you're impressed by, Nick?
Trump, after meeting with @ZelenskyyUa , says both Ukraine and Russia should just stop fighting. "They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide! No more shooting, no more Death, no more vast and unsustainable sums of money spent."
Last week, after some consideration, I took two books to the charity shop (Band of Brothers, and a book by Robert Harris) Now I find out that Marie LeConte eliminated 36 in the same fashion, leaving only 130. This concerns me. The solution to TooManyBooks is MoreShelves, not LessBooks. You can buy them from Argos.
Trouble isn't having too many books, it's carrying on buying more after all the shelves are full. Eventually you need to build an extension to house all the new shelves.
There's no point owning a book that you are never going to read again.
Pass it on so that someone else can read it.
Yes, but they are also objects of memory: they tether a memory to a place and time. You throw them away, you lose part of your brain.
I am on my Friday train. it was rammed packed at the beginning, so I had to sit in First 'cos I couldn't get to the other coaches. But now it's thinned out so I'm back in Second with the other poors. First has got a shit-ton more legroom and elbow-room, I'll tell you that.
Lucky you, I sat on the floor for a 90 minute journey today.
Although the Andrew story is important, I think the China story is far more important. So guess which one the media seems to be devoting more attention to.
A football match....
To be fair, the China story is basically incomprehensible to the vast majority and I include myself.
I am on my Friday train. it was rammed packed at the beginning, so I had to sit in First 'cos I couldn't get to the other coaches. But now it's thinned out so I'm back in Second with the other poors. First has got a shit-ton more legroom and elbow-room, I'll tell you that.
Lucky you, I sat on the floor for a 90 minute journey today.
You are Jeremy Corbyn and I claim my five pounds...
There's an interesting conversation about the historical importance of Trump with Neil Ferguson, Victor Davis Hanson and Stephen Kotkin from the Hoover Institution.
Exploring topics including Donald Trump’s second term and the transformation of the Republican Party, relations between China and Taiwan, America’s fiscal crisis, the current state of universities, and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this wide-ranging and often passionate conversation dives deep into history, politics, and the fate of Western civilization.
Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump · 51s 🚨 BREAKING: Trump signs a commutation releasing disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos from prison.
“Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A massively corrupt liar.
And George Santos is no saint either.
When this is all over, and I could be talking a decade or two from now; it is essential the forces for democracy and faith in the founding fathers enact a massive restriction on presidential pardons and commutations.
Was the presidential pardon the logical error that Kurt Gödel found in the constitution??
I remain interested but non-committal until after the conference. It's taken the opposite approach from Reform, which had Farage cheerily sketching policies off the cuff and modifying them as he went along - this one is determinedly member-led and consequently slow to lay down detailed policies. There are a host of regional conferences before the national one building up. We'll see...
Not tempted by Polanski's Green Party? He smashed it out of the park on #BBCQT last week, and this sort of Social Media presence is just what the country needs:
He's a bit too ready for anything, without much concern about the impact, but I'm impressed by his readiness to think outside the traditional Green agenda.
Believe in the science when it comes to climate change. Don't believe in the science when it comes to biology. Ignore the law despite losing court cases and having to pay damages to those whose rights my party has breached. Vote for us for incoherent nonsense.
Oh - and when one of my MPs (Sian Berry) issues a statement (last week) which blames the female victims of violence for the violence done to them by violent men - a version of "she was asking for it 'cos of the short skirt she was wearing" - I say nothing.
Is this the "readiness to think outside the traditional Green agenda "you're impressed by, Nick?
After the conference centre where a feminist conference was being held had its windows smashed and paint thrown at it. Those responsible stated that while paint washes off blood does not and have made other threats. Berry did not condemn those carrying out this but those who had the temerity to have a lawful conference discussing issues such as sexual violence and surrogacy.
Last week, after some consideration, I took two books to the charity shop (Band of Brothers, and a book by Robert Harris) Now I find out that Marie LeConte eliminated 36 in the same fashion, leaving only 130. This concerns me. The solution to TooManyBooks is MoreShelves, not LessBooks. You can buy them from Argos.
Trouble isn't having too many books, it's carrying on buying more after all the shelves are full. Eventually you need to build an extension to house all the new shelves.
There's no point owning a book that you are never going to read again.
Pass it on so that someone else can read it.
I have been going through my parent's book collection with a view to doing something with it. A lot of it was already inherited once.
There are quite a few first edition Agatha Christies, which because I now know they are first editions can't be read by anyone, but can decorate a bookshelf. I already have a bookshelf full of New Naturalists which cannot be read, so they can join the party.
Now, what should I do with lots of political biographies in hardback that were no doubt remaindered in 5 days? Anyone want some tomes full of self-justification?
I think I'll keep the Thatcher ones, but I have no wish to read anything by Iain Duncan Smith. Does anyone? Or should such things be used to warm the hands on a dark night?
Perhaps this has already been noticed, so forgive the repetition if it is, but yesterday in Surrey there were six by-elections. The Lib Dems won all six (which is perhaps to be expected) but the surprise for me is that, on average, the Conservatives polled 15%. That's got to be a cause for concern in Conservative Party HQ. They really ought to be getting a lot more than 15% in Surrey.
I’ve made my peace that for the next four years elections for the Tories including the general election will be like the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Bad on the left flank but highly successful in the south (as long as the French are there)?
First day of the Somme is both a terrible tragedy and a missed opportunity. The inability to communicate easily to the front and the lack of ability to get follow up troops lost the chance of cracking the front wide open. In the South the cavalry were set to go in, and the line was broken.
As a student I couldn't process the fact my teacher said British casualties on the first day numbered 57,000.
To some extent I still cannot.
Yep. Basically a full Anfield. A third dead, the rest injured. In one day, and actually for the most part fairly early on in the day.
The signs had been there in the American Civil War, but truly the lesson of how to assault heavily fortified trenches covered by machine guns and artilliary took a lot of learning.
The conspiracy theory is to look at how many of those casualties were loyal to Carson personally rather than the British state. And then to remember what a complete and utter bastard Lloyd George was.
I don’t buy that. Lloyd George had no control over which troops fought over which bit of the line. And before the day a lot of the brass thought that the bombardment would have wiped out the Germans, as it pretty much had in the south, adjacent to the French. For the French 1st July, 1916 was one of their best days of the war.
In the words of the song:
So, come gather round my comrades all, this First of July morn,
When Ulstermen are proud and glad of the land where they were born,
And we’ll never more be led away for to fight in a foreign land,
Or to die for someone else’s cause, at an Englishman’s command.
Lloyd George was influential in where the UVF were posted and where the attack was made.
Evidence that Lloyd George decided on which divisions attacked where?
He had input into the strategic plan & there were arguments that he intervened to rotate the UVF to the Somme. There were letters, I believe, but it’s been 30+ years since I wrote a dissertation on it
I certainly don’t believe he set them up to be killed.
He was not unhappy with the outcome.
Carson was “on the high road to treason and despair” and the UVF was dead set against allowing the enforcement of a “a sentence of death with a stay of execution”.
Prince Andrew has been forced to relinquish all his titles including the Duke of York and Knight of the Garter after his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein threatened to overshadow the reign of his brother, King Charles.
He will remain known as Prince Andrew, in accordance with a law first set down by George V in 1917 which stipulates that a son of a monarch can be called a prince.
His title should be Pervert Slug.
I think the twitter trolls have already decided he should be known from hereonout as 'Nonce Andrew'
Serious question. Did Prince Andrew shag anyone who was underange/a child? Whilst it’s messed up an old man with a very young woman as far as I understood she was with him in London when she was 17 so above the age of consent. Have never seen anything showing he had sex with underage women. Prob not best that people call him a pedo if that’s the case. A dirty fucking pig maybe but surely a bit dodgy to label him a nonce.
My thoughts exactly. And how old was he back then? How many men in there early thirties have lusted after the new girl in the office, say?
.... Very few, I'd hope? That seems weird.
You think it’s weird that men fancy 17-18 year old girls? Really?
... Men above above their teens or early 20s - yeah. It's just weird.
The old rule was “half your age +7”
So a 20 year old can date a 17 year old; 30 - 22; 40 - 27; 50 - 32 etc
Surely the law says you are allowed to fuck 16 year olds. As long as you don't pay them and you're not their teacher. That's it, really.
The “old rule” isn’t about what’s legal, but rather where the “ick factor” kicks in.
A 50 year old dating someone in their 20s is a bit icky, but in their 30s is ok…
It is worth noting that that is rather out of line with other pollsters; Trump's favorability -as Nate Silver tracks it- has actually improved slightly in the last 10 days, and is generally in the -6 to -10 range that it's been at for most of the last four months (following the initial drop off).
The big US issue is - and will continue to be - the economy. If Trump can reduce the pressures on the cost of living, then he stands a good chance of having a reasonable midterms. With that said, the economic indicators look somewhat concerning for Trump. Non-farm payrolls have been weak, and inflation has been ticking up. It's not in the danger zone yet, but if it gets much above 3%, then people will begin to feel it.
If I recall correctly, Mitch McConnell, seeing Vance was in trouble in Ohio, sent him some help. Again, if I recall correctly, Vance had the lowest state-wide vote total for a Republican in Ohio that year.
Prince Andrew has been forced to relinquish all his titles including the Duke of York and Knight of the Garter after his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein threatened to overshadow the reign of his brother, King Charles.
He will remain known as Prince Andrew, in accordance with a law first set down by George V in 1917 which stipulates that a son of a monarch can be called a prince.
His title should be Pervert Slug.
I think the twitter trolls have already decided he should be known from hereonout as 'Nonce Andrew'
Serious question. Did Prince Andrew shag anyone who was underange/a child? Whilst it’s messed up an old man with a very young woman as far as I understood she was with him in London when she was 17 so above the age of consent. Have never seen anything showing he had sex with underage women. Prob not best that people call him a pedo if that’s the case. A dirty fucking pig maybe but surely a bit dodgy to label him a nonce.
My thoughts exactly. And how old was he back then? How many men in there early thirties have lusted after the new girl in the office, say?
.... Very few, I'd hope? That seems weird.
You think it’s weird that men fancy 17-18 year old girls? Really?
... Men above above their teens or early 20s - yeah. It's just weird.
The old rule was “half your age +7”
So a 20 year old can date a 17 year old; 30 - 22; 40 - 27; 50 - 32 etc
Surely the law says you are allowed to fuck 16 year olds. As long as you don't pay them and you're not their teacher. That's it, really.
I think there's also the tiny matter of consent.
Well yes of course, if not it's called rape.
But everyone's getting their knickers in a twist about going out with someone a few years younger.
I think there are far too many people who DO have sex with actual minors. They're the ones we should be worrying about, not people, princes or otherwise, who have legal sex with consenting adults.
Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump · 51s 🚨 BREAKING: Trump signs a commutation releasing disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos from prison.
“Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A massively corrupt liar.
And George Santos is no saint either.
Trump is truly the most disgusting man ever to disgrace the office of President, isn't he?
Just as the Ukrainians have got Putin on the back foot Donny comes along to ease the pressure on the Russians.
A villain to the core, he doesn't even have any redeeming vices- humourless performance cruelty and unrelenting greed, heavily laced with an industrial waste of stupidity.
Prince Andrew has been forced to relinquish all his titles including the Duke of York and Knight of the Garter after his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein threatened to overshadow the reign of his brother, King Charles.
He will remain known as Prince Andrew, in accordance with a law first set down by George V in 1917 which stipulates that a son of a monarch can be called a prince.
His title should be Pervert Slug.
I think the twitter trolls have already decided he should be known from hereonout as 'Nonce Andrew'
Serious question. Did Prince Andrew shag anyone who was underange/a child? Whilst it’s messed up an old man with a very young woman as far as I understood she was with him in London when she was 17 so above the age of consent. Have never seen anything showing he had sex with underage women. Prob not best that people call him a pedo if that’s the case. A dirty fucking pig maybe but surely a bit dodgy to label him a nonce.
My thoughts exactly. And how old was he back then? How many men in there early thirties have lusted after the new girl in the office, say?
.... Very few, I'd hope? That seems weird.
You think it’s weird that men fancy 17-18 year old girls? Really?
... Men above above their teens or early 20s - yeah. It's just weird.
The old rule was “half your age +7”
So a 20 year old can date a 17 year old; 30 - 22; 40 - 27; 50 - 32 etc
Surely the law says you are allowed to fuck 16 year olds. As long as you don't pay them and you're not their teacher. That's it, really.
I think there's also the tiny matter of consent.
Well yes of course, if not it's called rape.
But everyone's getting their knickers in a twist about going out with someone a few years younger.
I think there are far too many people who DO have sex with actual minors. They're the ones we should be worrying about, not people, princes or otherwise, who have legal sex with consenting adults.
There's far more to the Epstein/Maxwell sex trafficking ring than "legal sex with consenting adults".
It really is worth reading Giufre's story of how she was groomed and exploited.
Trump, after meeting with @ZelenskyyUa , says both Ukraine and Russia should just stop fighting. "They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide! No more shooting, no more Death, no more vast and unsustainable sums of money spent."
He's not going to let them have Tomahawks is he?
Ukraine really only needs them to hit the Shaheed drone factory. The rest they can pretty much trash themselves with homemade drones.
Russia has just called up its reservists including those based in Moscow and St Petersburg. Putin is reinforcing the front line in a push for more territory / grind the Ukrainians down. It's now a race between winning in Ukraine and internal Russian politics.
Number 10 has asked West Midlands to set out what extra resource they need to police the game.
The IDF?
What the Luftwaffe did to Birmingham is not dissimilar to what the IDF did to Gaza.
Let's hope the Gazans have better luck with their town planners
Had the Luftwaffe possessed that capability, we'd likely have lost the war.
Birmingham's former Debenhams building suggests we might have lost the war. We wouldn't have done that to ourselves, would we?
Mind you The Square Peg, in the former Rackhams, is a great place to go.
My last visit to Rackhams was during the death throws of House of Fraser. It reflected the sad decline of Corporation Street. I'd not even heard of the Square Peg. I have been on the tram through. Somewhat ironic as I remember them digging up the pre war tram lines on the Bristol Road in the 1980s because they decided they didn't need trams with the coming of age of the car.
Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump · 51s 🚨 BREAKING: Trump signs a commutation releasing disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos from prison.
“Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A massively corrupt liar.
And George Santos is no saint either.
Trump is truly the most disgusting man ever to disgrace the office of President, isn't he?
Just as the Ukrainians have got Putin on the back foot Donny comes along to ease the pressure on the Russians.
A villain to the core, he doesn't even have any redeeming vices- humourless performance cruelty and unrelenting greed, heavily laced with an industrial waste of stupidity.
'In response to HuffPost’s query about who suggested Budapest (for the meeting with Putin), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, “Your mom did,” and White House communications director Steven Cheung replied: “Your mom.”' https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/1979229724816584889
Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump · 51s 🚨 BREAKING: Trump signs a commutation releasing disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos from prison.
“Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A massively corrupt liar.
And George Santos is no saint either.
Trump is truly the most disgusting man ever to disgrace the office of President, isn't he?
Just as the Ukrainians have got Putin on the back foot Donny comes along to ease the pressure on the Russians.
A villain to the core, he doesn't even have any redeeming vices- humourless performance cruelty and unrelenting greed, heavily laced with an industrial waste of stupidity.
'In response to HuffPost’s query about who suggested Budapest (for the meeting with Putin), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, “Your mom did,” and White House communications director Steven Cheung replied: “Your mom.”' https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/1979229724816584889
Argentinian economist friend to me: “the Milei government’s disinflation has come at the cost of an artificially sustained foreign exchange rate—remarkably now supported by the U.S. Treasury, which has been buying pesos in the local market to avoid a devaluation just days before the Midterms. By the way, what is most striking about the U.S. Treasury’s peso intervention is that the “dollar price” in Buenos Aires is at such an unsustainable level that even with this US support, local market participants are betting against it.”
“They do not believe that a devaluation can ultimately be avoided. In Argentina, as we discussed, currency devaluations pass through directly to inflation and hurt real incomes. Meanwhile, fiscal adjustment has relied heavily on eroding real wages and pensions while postponing capital expenditures, leaving the economy in recession and capacity utilization at historic lows.”
Argentinian economist friend to me: “the Milei government’s disinflation has come at the cost of an artificially sustained foreign exchange rate—remarkably now supported by the U.S. Treasury, which has been buying pesos in the local market to avoid a devaluation just days before the Midterms. By the way, what is most striking about the U.S. Treasury’s peso intervention is that the “dollar price” in Buenos Aires is at such an unsustainable level that even with this US support, local market participants are betting against it.”
“They do not believe that a devaluation can ultimately be avoided. In Argentina, as we discussed, currency devaluations pass through directly to inflation and hurt real incomes. Meanwhile, fiscal adjustment has relied heavily on eroding real wages and pensions while postponing capital expenditures, leaving the economy in recession and capacity utilization at historic lows.”
Argentinian economist friend to me: “the Milei government’s disinflation has come at the cost of an artificially sustained foreign exchange rate—remarkably now supported by the U.S. Treasury, which has been buying pesos in the local market to avoid a devaluation just days before the Midterms. By the way, what is most striking about the U.S. Treasury’s peso intervention is that the “dollar price” in Buenos Aires is at such an unsustainable level that even with this US support, local market participants are betting against it.”
“They do not believe that a devaluation can ultimately be avoided. In Argentina, as we discussed, currency devaluations pass through directly to inflation and hurt real incomes. Meanwhile, fiscal adjustment has relied heavily on eroding real wages and pensions while postponing capital expenditures, leaving the economy in recession and capacity utilization at historic lows.”
Prince Andrew has been forced to relinquish all his titles including the Duke of York and Knight of the Garter after his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein threatened to overshadow the reign of his brother, King Charles.
He will remain known as Prince Andrew, in accordance with a law first set down by George V in 1917 which stipulates that a son of a monarch can be called a prince.
His title should be Pervert Slug.
I think the twitter trolls have already decided he should be known from hereonout as 'Nonce Andrew'
Serious question. Did Prince Andrew shag anyone who was underange/a child? Whilst it’s messed up an old man with a very young woman as far as I understood she was with him in London when she was 17 so above the age of consent. Have never seen anything showing he had sex with underage women. Prob not best that people call him a pedo if that’s the case. A dirty fucking pig maybe but surely a bit dodgy to label him a nonce.
My thoughts exactly. And how old was he back then? How many men in there early thirties have lusted after the new girl in the office, say?
.... Very few, I'd hope? That seems weird.
You think it’s weird that men fancy 17-18 year old girls? Really?
... Men above above their teens or early 20s - yeah. It's just weird.
The old rule was “half your age +7”
So a 20 year old can date a 17 year old; 30 - 22; 40 - 27; 50 - 32 etc
Surely the law says you are allowed to fuck 16 year olds. As long as you don't pay them and you're not their teacher. That's it, really.
I think there's also the tiny matter of consent.
Well yes of course, if not it's called rape.
But everyone's getting their knickers in a twist about going out with someone a few years younger.
I think there are far too many people who DO have sex with actual minors. They're the ones we should be worrying about, not people, princes or otherwise, who have legal sex with consenting adults.
There are indeed far too many people who do have sex with minors. But, again, Andrew has been accused of having sex with minors.
Trump won't be contesting the next election. JD Vance probably will, and I can't see any Democrat at the moment who might stop him.
There's not a lot of evidence that Vance is particularly popular with the electorate: his performance in Ohio in 2022 was particularly weak.
The likely order of events feels like being no one else can beat Vance in the primaries but he then loses the general. I still hold a candle for Rubio but think his time will be 2032.
Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump · 51s 🚨 BREAKING: Trump signs a commutation releasing disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos from prison.
“Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A massively corrupt liar.
And George Santos is no saint either.
Trump is truly the most disgusting man ever to disgrace the office of President, isn't he?
Just as the Ukrainians have got Putin on the back foot Donny comes along to ease the pressure on the Russians.
A villain to the core, he doesn't even have any redeeming vices- humourless performance cruelty and unrelenting greed, heavily laced with an industrial waste of stupidity.
'In response to HuffPost’s query about who suggested Budapest (for the meeting with Putin), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, “Your mom did,” and White House communications director Steven Cheung replied: “Your mom.”' https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/1979229724816584889
Argentinian economist friend to me: “the Milei government’s disinflation has come at the cost of an artificially sustained foreign exchange rate—remarkably now supported by the U.S. Treasury, which has been buying pesos in the local market to avoid a devaluation just days before the Midterms. By the way, what is most striking about the U.S. Treasury’s peso intervention is that the “dollar price” in Buenos Aires is at such an unsustainable level that even with this US support, local market participants are betting against it.”
“They do not believe that a devaluation can ultimately be avoided. In Argentina, as we discussed, currency devaluations pass through directly to inflation and hurt real incomes. Meanwhile, fiscal adjustment has relied heavily on eroding real wages and pensions while postponing capital expenditures, leaving the economy in recession and capacity utilization at historic lows.”
Number 10 has asked West Midlands to set out what extra resource they need to police the game.
The IDF?
What the Luftwaffe did to Birmingham is not dissimilar to what the IDF did to Gaza.
Let's hope the Gazans have better luck with their town planners
Had the Luftwaffe possessed that capability, we'd likely have lost the war.
Birmingham's former Debenhams building suggests we might have lost the war. We wouldn't have done that to ourselves, would we?
Mind you The Square Peg, in the former Rackhams, is a great place to go.
My last visit to Rackhams was during the death throws of House of Fraser. It reflected the sad decline of Corporation Street. I'd not even heard of the Square Peg. I have been on the tram through. Somewhat ironic as I remember them digging up the pre war tram lines on the Bristol Road in the 1980s because they decided they didn't need trams with the coming of age of the car.
Now they’re putting them back in.
The Square Peg pub in Birmingham was in the old Lewis's building (which became Debenhams). Rackhams was the in the building the other side of Bull St.
Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump · 51s 🚨 BREAKING: Trump signs a commutation releasing disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos from prison.
“Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A massively corrupt liar.
And George Santos is no saint either.
Trump is truly the most disgusting man ever to disgrace the office of President, isn't he?
Just as the Ukrainians have got Putin on the back foot Donny comes along to ease the pressure on the Russians.
A villain to the core, he doesn't even have any redeeming vices- humourless performance cruelty and unrelenting greed, heavily laced with an industrial waste of stupidity.
'In response to HuffPost’s query about who suggested Budapest (for the meeting with Putin), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, “Your mom did,” and White House communications director Steven Cheung replied: “Your mom.”' https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/1979229724816584889
Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump · 51s 🚨 BREAKING: Trump signs a commutation releasing disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos from prison.
“Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A massively corrupt liar.
And George Santos is no saint either.
Trump is truly the most disgusting man ever to disgrace the office of President, isn't he?
Just as the Ukrainians have got Putin on the back foot Donny comes along to ease the pressure on the Russians.
A villain to the core, he doesn't even have any redeeming vices- humourless performance cruelty and unrelenting greed, heavily laced with an industrial waste of stupidity.
'In response to HuffPost’s query about who suggested Budapest (for the meeting with Putin), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, “Your mom did,” and White House communications director Steven Cheung replied: “Your mom.”' https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/1979229724816584889
Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump · 51s 🚨 BREAKING: Trump signs a commutation releasing disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos from prison.
“Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
A massively corrupt liar.
And George Santos is no saint either.
Trump is truly the most disgusting man ever to disgrace the office of President, isn't he?
Just as the Ukrainians have got Putin on the back foot Donny comes along to ease the pressure on the Russians.
A villain to the core, he doesn't even have any redeeming vices- humourless performance cruelty and unrelenting greed, heavily laced with an industrial waste of stupidity.
'In response to HuffPost’s query about who suggested Budapest (for the meeting with Putin), White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, “Your mom did,” and White House communications director Steven Cheung replied: “Your mom.”' https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/1979229724816584889
I'm not sure whether GOAT is now government of all the trolls, or all the traitors.
Feels like a bit of a reach from Jake there
He's hardly the only one to note this.
It probably wasn’t chosen for being like a Russian flag but what it does nicely demonstrate is that there is nobody around Hegseth and the administration who could point out “Hey Pete, that tie might be a bit of a problem so best to change it.” Because people with wide knowledge and good instincts have been purged.
It’s a horrid tie though, the stripes are weirdly too wide so looks more like a barbers pole than a club/school/regimental tie would.
Argentinian economist friend to me: “the Milei government’s disinflation has come at the cost of an artificially sustained foreign exchange rate—remarkably now supported by the U.S. Treasury, which has been buying pesos in the local market to avoid a devaluation just days before the Midterms. By the way, what is most striking about the U.S. Treasury’s peso intervention is that the “dollar price” in Buenos Aires is at such an unsustainable level that even with this US support, local market participants are betting against it.”
“They do not believe that a devaluation can ultimately be avoided. In Argentina, as we discussed, currency devaluations pass through directly to inflation and hurt real incomes. Meanwhile, fiscal adjustment has relied heavily on eroding real wages and pensions while postponing capital expenditures, leaving the economy in recession and capacity utilization at historic lows.”
Number 10 has asked West Midlands to set out what extra resource they need to police the game.
The IDF?
What the Luftwaffe did to Birmingham is not dissimilar to what the IDF did to Gaza.
Let's hope the Gazans have better luck with their town planners
Had the Luftwaffe possessed that capability, we'd likely have lost the war.
Birmingham's former Debenhams building suggests we might have lost the war. We wouldn't have done that to ourselves, would we?
Mind you The Square Peg, in the former Rackhams, is a great place to go.
My last visit to Rackhams was during the death throws of House of Fraser. It reflected the sad decline of Corporation Street. I'd not even heard of the Square Peg. I have been on the tram through. Somewhat ironic as I remember them digging up the pre war tram lines on the Bristol Road in the 1980s because they decided they didn't need trams with the coming of age of the car.
Now they’re putting them back in.
The Square Peg pub in Birmingham was in the old Lewis's building (which became Debenhams). Rackhams was the in the building the other side of Bull St.
Ha,, I should know that as I only lived in Birmingham for 20 years 😱😱
Argentinian economist friend to me: “the Milei government’s disinflation has come at the cost of an artificially sustained foreign exchange rate—remarkably now supported by the U.S. Treasury, which has been buying pesos in the local market to avoid a devaluation just days before the Midterms. By the way, what is most striking about the U.S. Treasury’s peso intervention is that the “dollar price” in Buenos Aires is at such an unsustainable level that even with this US support, local market participants are betting against it.”
“They do not believe that a devaluation can ultimately be avoided. In Argentina, as we discussed, currency devaluations pass through directly to inflation and hurt real incomes. Meanwhile, fiscal adjustment has relied heavily on eroding real wages and pensions while postponing capital expenditures, leaving the economy in recession and capacity utilization at historic lows.”
Three neo-Nazis who plotted terrorist attacks on mosques and synagogues jailed The trio had more than 200 weapons including crossbows, swords, machetes, axes, hunting knives and an almost-complete 3D-printed assault rifle, which prosecutors say could "have been used to devastating consequences".
Although the Andrew story is important, I think the China story is far more important. So guess which one the media seems to be devoting more attention to.
News is entertainment, entertainment is news.
That value has spread from Yoof TV to pretty much everywhere. Hence all the "terrible government gonna fall" stories, rather than "mediocre government is secure for the duration".
F1: I've probably blathered already about why I'm keeping an eye on Russell for 2026. Here's an explanation at slightly greater length of the main contenders for the title next year and why I think Russell's got a great shot:
Argentinian economist friend to me: “the Milei government’s disinflation has come at the cost of an artificially sustained foreign exchange rate—remarkably now supported by the U.S. Treasury, which has been buying pesos in the local market to avoid a devaluation just days before the Midterms. By the way, what is most striking about the U.S. Treasury’s peso intervention is that the “dollar price” in Buenos Aires is at such an unsustainable level that even with this US support, local market participants are betting against it.”
“They do not believe that a devaluation can ultimately be avoided. In Argentina, as we discussed, currency devaluations pass through directly to inflation and hurt real incomes. Meanwhile, fiscal adjustment has relied heavily on eroding real wages and pensions while postponing capital expenditures, leaving the economy in recession and capacity utilization at historic lows.”
Hold on, we were told that the Argentine state was stuffed with waste and corruption, and Milei was cutting that. You know, like Musk said of the American state, and Yusuf said of the British state.
Prince Andrew has been forced to relinquish all his titles including the Duke of York and Knight of the Garter after his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein threatened to overshadow the reign of his brother, King Charles.
He will remain known as Prince Andrew, in accordance with a law first set down by George V in 1917 which stipulates that a son of a monarch can be called a prince.
His title should be Pervert Slug.
I think the twitter trolls have already decided he should be known from hereonout as 'Nonce Andrew'
Serious question. Did Prince Andrew shag anyone who was underange/a child? Whilst it’s messed up an old man with a very young woman as far as I understood she was with him in London when she was 17 so above the age of consent. Have never seen anything showing he had sex with underage women. Prob not best that people call him a pedo if that’s the case. A dirty fucking pig maybe but surely a bit dodgy to label him a nonce.
My thoughts exactly. And how old was he back then? How many men in there early thirties have lusted after the new girl in the office, say?
.... Very few, I'd hope? That seems weird.
You think it’s weird that men fancy 17-18 year old girls? Really?
... Men above above their teens or early 20s - yeah. It's just weird.
The old rule was “half your age +7”
So a 20 year old can date a 17 year old; 30 - 22; 40 - 27; 50 - 32 etc
Surely the law says you are allowed to fuck 16 year olds. As long as you don't pay them and you're not their teacher. That's it, really.
I think there's also the tiny matter of consent.
Well yes of course, if not it's called rape.
But everyone's getting their knickers in a twist about going out with someone a few years younger.
I think there are far too many people who DO have sex with actual minors. They're the ones we should be worrying about, not people, princes or otherwise, who have legal sex with consenting adults.
There are indeed far too many people who do have sex with minors. But, again, Andrew has been accused of having sex with minors.
And he has denied it. People accused David Cameron of having sex with a pigs head. I assume you believe that too? Is it possible Virginia Giuffre might not have been telling the truth?
Comments
Oh - and when one of my MPs (Sian Berry) issues a statement (last week) which blames the female victims of violence for the violence done to them by violent men - a version of "she was asking for it 'cos of the short skirt she was wearing" - I say nothing.
Is this the "readiness to think outside the traditional Green agenda "you're impressed by, Nick?
Republicans against Trump
@RpsAgainstTrump
·
51s
🚨 BREAKING: Trump signs a commutation releasing disgraced former GOP Rep. George Santos from prison.
“Good luck George, have a great life!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
And George Santos is no saint either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIa3w94tV7M (29mins)
At around 2250.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/bbctwo
Was the presidential pardon the logical error that Kurt Gödel found in the constitution??
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ucKufRA12tM
MSNBC
I don’t think I have ever called anyone ‘love’ ‘darling’ ‘babe’ or such like, I find it a bit cringey
After the conference centre where a feminist conference was being held had its windows smashed and paint thrown at it. Those responsible stated that while paint washes off blood does not and have made other threats. Berry did not condemn those carrying out this but those who had the temerity to have a lawful conference discussing issues such as sexual violence and surrogacy.
There are quite a few first edition Agatha Christies, which because I now know they are first editions can't be read by anyone, but can decorate a bookshelf. I already have a bookshelf full of New Naturalists which cannot be read, so they can join the party.
Now, what should I do with lots of political biographies in hardback that were no doubt remaindered in 5 days? Anyone want some tomes full of self-justification?
I think I'll keep the Thatcher ones, but I have no wish to read anything by Iain Duncan Smith. Does anyone? Or should such things be used to warm the hands on a dark night?
Carson was “on the high road to treason and despair” and the UVF was dead set against allowing the enforcement of a “a sentence of death with a stay of execution”.
A 50 year old dating someone in their 20s is a bit icky, but in their 30s is ok…
The big US issue is - and will continue to be - the economy. If Trump can reduce the pressures on the cost of living, then he stands a good chance of having a reasonable midterms. With that said, the economic indicators look somewhat concerning for Trump. Non-farm payrolls have been weak, and inflation has been ticking up. It's not in the danger zone yet, but if it gets much above 3%, then people will begin to feel it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2028_United_States_presidential_election#General_election
Has Netanyahu recognised Palestine?
Just as the Ukrainians have got Putin on the back foot Donny comes along to ease the pressure on the Russians.
A villain to the core, he doesn't even have any redeeming vices- humourless performance cruelty and unrelenting greed, heavily laced with an industrial waste of stupidity.
It really is worth reading Giufre's story of how she was groomed and exploited.
It really is not OK, and never has been.
https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/warning-the-kremlin-is-preparing-to-mobilize-reservists-on-a-rolling-basis-to-fight-in-ukraine-for-the-first-time/
F1: not a fan of late start times. Interesting practice/sprint results. I see Hulkenberg's done surprisingly well.
https://morrisf1.blogspot.com/2025/10/american-grand-prix-2025-pre.html
Was tempted by Hulkenberg for a sprint podium but his odds were just 3.5.
Gotta be from one of the later albums. Can't think which track though.
I'm not sure if that's a helpful clue or not.
https://youtu.be/DUeLs4FSu7A?si=cqN22V-vNCd8oNM8
https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/1979229724816584889
https://x.com/RealJakeBroe/status/1979275356663353829
I'm not sure whether GOAT is now government of all the trolls, or all the traitors.
“They do not believe that a devaluation can ultimately be avoided. In Argentina, as we discussed, currency devaluations pass through directly to inflation and hurt real incomes. Meanwhile, fiscal adjustment has relied heavily on eroding real wages and pensions while postponing capital expenditures, leaving the economy in recession and capacity utilization at historic lows.”
https://x.com/StephanieKelton/status/1979212357894054157
He may have done an EU type 360
It’s a horrid tie though, the stripes are weirdly too wide so looks more like a barbers pole than a club/school/regimental tie would.
Three neo-Nazis who plotted terrorist attacks on mosques and synagogues jailed
The trio had more than 200 weapons including crossbows, swords, machetes, axes, hunting knives and an almost-complete 3D-printed assault rifle, which prosecutors say could "have been used to devastating consequences".
That value has spread from Yoof TV to pretty much everywhere. Hence all the "terrible government gonna fall" stories, rather than "mediocre government is secure for the duration".
NEW THREAD
https://medium.com/@rkilner/why-russell-could-win-in-2026-13e9463696fa