If the Western Alliance is over, when should we close the US bases on British soil? Surely to God we can't keep them open when this treachery is going on?
Tempting but no. We burn no bridges; just wait for a more conventional American president to come along.
Sadly you are assuming that the current occupant of the post and his lackeys won't fiddle with the (already dysfunctional) US electoral machine to ensure that someone similar is elected in 2028 and 2032.
If the Western Alliance is over, when should we close the US bases on British soil? Surely to God we can't keep them open when this treachery is going on?
The US would withdraw support for Trident among other acts of retribution. This would cause the ego death of the English people and a shit fit in the Daily Mail. Not going to happen and the sycophancy will continue.
Interesting intervention from Russia yesterday suggesting Russia and the USA could jointly run Greenland. The Russians were in hysterical laughter at the Nazi ( Elon Musk's analysis not mine) Starmer.
If the Western Alliance is over, when should we close the US bases on British soil? Surely to God we can't keep them open when this treachery is going on?
The US would withdraw support for Trident among other acts of retribution. This would cause the ego death of the English people and a shit fit in the Daily Mail. Not going to happen and the sycophancy will continue.
If Team Trump really does want to ally with Russia, which for whatever reason seems to be the case, why don't they just f*** off the Western European branch of NATO?
Some good news about Britain. Seems that by 2030 all the damage done by the 2020-2025 Conservative government (which included Kemi) will be reversed by our glorious leaders. (Source is Casino's report from earlier). Japan which doesn't like immigration is in freefall.
Disclaimer: I used to do these sorts of economic forecasts and they never work out as planned.
Per capita or its meaningless.
Depends what you intend using the numbers for.
If you're talking delivering a good life for citizens, GDP/head is more useful.
If you're talking global heft wielded by the government, total GDP is nearer the mark.
Poor old Japan is struggling in both absolute and per capita GDP terms, although FX is having a large influence on the trend.
In current USD terms it was just under 50k in 2012 and only 32k today. That’s a massive loss of buying power, unprecedented in the rich world.
At constant FX it’s less dramatic: a rise from 33 to 37 in the same period if we base it on 2015 USD. But that still represents a loss of ground relative to other countries.
If the Western Alliance is over, when should we close the US bases on British soil? Surely to God we can't keep them open when this treachery is going on?
The US would withdraw support for Trident among other acts of retribution. This would cause the ego death of the English people and a shit fit in the Daily Mail. Not going to happen and the sycophancy will continue.
Good! We can get Trident out of the Clyde! That will boost many Scots’ egos, as will fu*king the minds of Daily Mail readers. Win, win!
Interesting intervention from Russia yesterday suggesting Russia and the USA could jointly run Greenland. The Russians were in hysterical laughter at the Nazi ( Elon Musk's analysis not mine) Starmer.
No tariff decision today . The longer it goes on the more likely the court will at worst for Trump support the lower court but not impose a ruling that the previous tariffs paid must be refunded .
There’s still a chance they give him a total win .
No tariff decision today . The longer it goes on the more likely the court will at worst for Trump support the lower court but not impose a ruling that the previous tariffs paid must be refunded .
There’s still a chance they give him a total win .
They have a very expansive idea of presidential authority, so it would not surprise. Maybe taking a long time as Roberts trying to craft something all can sign onto, but it's a rare issue Alito and Thomas would disagree with Trump on.
Or in Thomas's case with whatever billionaire gave him a lovely gift he somehow forgot about.
Some good news about Britain. Seems that by 2030 all the damage done by the 2020-2025 Conservative government (which included Kemi) will be reversed by our glorious leaders. (Source is Casino's report from earlier). Japan which doesn't like immigration is in freefall.
Disclaimer: I used to do these sorts of economic forecasts and they never work out as planned.
Per capita or its meaningless.
Depends what you intend using the numbers for.
If you're talking delivering a good life for citizens, GDP/head is more useful.
If you're talking global heft wielded by the government, total GDP is nearer the mark.
A good life for citizens is what is meaningful, so yes GDP/capita is the meaningful one.
As far as global heft is concerned, then yes more people can lead to more heft but the problem is that governmental expenditure demands scales with population too, so having a plethora of impoverished people does not make you wealthy.
Nigeria and Greece have the same approximate GDP, but with Nigeria having over 20x the population. Which has more meaningful 'heft'? I would argue Greece, by far.
I think they have comparable heft. Greece's heft is largely through the EU. Greece isn't taking a separate line to the EU on most things, and if they do, I don't think they're getting much attention for doing so.
The FBI raided the home of a Washington Post reporter early Wednesday in what the newspaper called a “highly unusual and aggressive” move by law enforcement.
Agents descended on the Virginia home of Hannah Natanson as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified government materials. The Post is “reviewing and monitoring the situation”, a source at the newspaper told the Guardian.
TGI closing 16 outlets including both Sheffield and Coventry.
Used to go to the one on the Hagley Road many years ago. Didn’t realise they were still going
Well done Rachel
Although Rachel from Accounts decisions will undoubtedly lead to further pubs and restaurant closures, a load of layoffs and reduced hours in the hospitality sector, in this specific case I think TGI was a basket case for a long time before she added a load of extra taxes.
There are just too many of this "mid" chains serving at best ok quality food at an inflated price. It all went a bit mad 10 years or so ago where it seemed everybody who had a successful restaurant tried rapid expansion and the private equity people also tried to put rocket boosters under every concept.
TGI closing 16 outlets including both Sheffield and Coventry.
Used to go to the one on the Hagley Road many years ago. Didn’t realise they were still going
Well done Rachel
Although Rachel from Accounts decisions will undoubtedly lead to further pubs and restaurant closures, a load of layoffs and reduced hours in the hospitality sector, in this specific case I think TGI was a basket case for a long time before she added a load of extra taxes.
There are just too many of this "mid" chains serving at best ok quality food at an inflated price. It all went a bit mad 10 years or so ago where it seemed everybody who had a successful restaurant tried rapid expansion and the private equity people also tried to put rocket boosters under every concept.
A number of these basket case retailers/caterers seem to fall through the hoop, get saved for a pound by investors with the business acumen of the chap who ran Trump Casinos, and then fall through the hoop again. Is there some genius scam that I am missing.
TGI closing 16 outlets including both Sheffield and Coventry.
Used to go to the one on the Hagley Road many years ago. Didn’t realise they were still going
Well done Rachel
Although Rachel from Accounts decisions will undoubtedly lead to further pubs and restaurant closures, a load of layoffs and reduced hours in the hospitality sector, in this specific case I think TGI was a basket case for a long time before she added a load of extra taxes.
There are just too many of this "mid" chains serving at best ok quality food at an inflated price. It all went a bit mad 10 years or so ago where it seemed everybody who had a successful restaurant tried rapid expansion and the private equity people also tried to put rocket boosters under every concept.
Sunak gave them an unnecessary boost, too, with 'eat out to help out'!
TGI closing 16 outlets including both Sheffield and Coventry.
Used to go to the one on the Hagley Road many years ago. Didn’t realise they were still going
Well done Rachel
Although Rachel from Accounts decisions will undoubtedly lead to further pubs and restaurant closures, a load of layoffs and reduced hours in the hospitality sector, in this specific case I think TGI was a basket case for a long time before she added a load of extra taxes.
There are just too many of this "mid" chains serving at best ok quality food at an inflated price. It all went a bit mad 10 years or so ago where it seemed everybody who had a successful restaurant tried rapid expansion and the private equity people also tried to put rocket boosters under every concept.
A number of these basket case retailers/caterers seem to fall through the hoop, get saved for a pound by investors with the business acumen of the chap who ran Trump Casinos, and then fall through the hoop again. Is there some genius scam that I am missing.
Its a bit like Mike Ashley buying up all these shit busto high street shops. I honestly don't know what the play is. AFAIK, they don't own the real estate (so it isn't like the PE play for Morrisons, who are sitting on masses of prime lots, so they do the sell and lease back or sell to developer).
In the US, one move is the retail "squatting" i.e. you have the long term lease on somewhere prime in an upcoming and area at a reasonable price, you try to run at b/e for a number of years, the area booms, the leaseholder sees everybody else around is charging multiples for their rents, they pay off the "squatter" to break the lease early.
But restaurants are high running costs, so I don't get for chain restaurants compare to in the US Mattress stores are a classic for retail squatting.
TGI closing 16 outlets including both Sheffield and Coventry.
Used to go to the one on the Hagley Road many years ago. Didn’t realise they were still going
Well done Rachel
Although Rachel from Accounts decisions will undoubtedly lead to further pubs and restaurant closures, a load of layoffs and reduced hours in the hospitality sector, in this specific case I think TGI was a basket case for a long time before she added a load of extra taxes.
There are just too many of this "mid" chains serving at best ok quality food at an inflated price. It all went a bit mad 10 years or so ago where it seemed everybody who had a successful restaurant tried rapid expansion and the private equity people also tried to put rocket boosters under every concept.
I think I went to a TGI a couple of years ago, for the first time in 20 years. Was looking forward to it but the product was terrible. No surprise they are struggling. Had my first Nandos last year and really liked it. Perhaps TGI need to look around at what is working now?
If the Western Alliance is over, when should we close the US bases on British soil? Surely to God we can't keep them open when this treachery is going on?
The US would withdraw support for Trident among other acts of retribution. This would cause the ego death of the English people and a shit fit in the Daily Mail. Not going to happen and the sycophancy will continue.
Good! We can get Trident out of the Clyde! That will boost many Scots’ egos, as will fu*king the minds of Daily Mail readers. Win, win!
This thought links with the, as yet SFAICS unasked question: after Venezuela, Greenland, Canada and Mexico which are the next non-nuclear powers on the 'strategically necessary to possess in USA interests' list? Scotland's handy position in the Atlantic + excellent golf courses places it somewhere in the batting order, about the same position as RoI.
(Only a bit over a year ago the Greenland/Canada/Mexico thing was a joke.)
My wife had a private cataracht operation in Cheshire Oaks, England this morning paid by Glan Clwyd hospital as they have an 18 month waiting list unlike a much quicker one in England
A lesson to all those who look on the NHS as a religion; using private practice is a very good idea to reduce the waiting lists
And on PMQ's did Starmer really refer to the Kama Sutra re the conservative party ?
He really has lost it and I noted he went full on v Farage who seems to be living in his head
Maybe devote more time to getting policy right first time as Streeting demands rather than obsess over Farage with 13 U turns
The FBI raided the home of a Washington Post reporter early Wednesday in what the newspaper called a “highly unusual and aggressive” move by law enforcement.
Agents descended on the Virginia home of Hannah Natanson as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified government materials. The Post is “reviewing and monitoring the situation”, a source at the newspaper told the Guardian.
Good news from an unexpected place. The Trump administration is making efforts to increase nuclear power.
Early this year, the NRC is expected to make public a revision of its regulatory code. The Energy Department is on track to review, approve and demonstrate multiple small test reactors at the Idaho National Laboratory this year. The Defense Department has started a program to offer contracts to deploy small reactors at military bases. In anticipation of safety reviews of those reactors, the Energy Department is revamping radiological health standards, setting practical thresholds for exposure rather than assuming, without well-established epidemiological evidence, that exposure to vanishingly low doses of radiation creates significant public health risks. Energy Department standards will likely become the template for revisions at the NRC and the Environmental Protection Agency.
I have been saying for years that, if you think global warming is a serious problem — and can do arithmetic — you will favor more nuclear power. Currently, we get about 19 percent of our electricity from nuclear power. source: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3 (France gets about 75 percent, so you can see we have a ways to go.)
At this point, I must add that I am also in favor of continuing to expand solar and wind power generation. (In some places they make sense, even after you include the cost of storage facilities.)
TGI closing 16 outlets including both Sheffield and Coventry.
Used to go to the one on the Hagley Road many years ago. Didn’t realise they were still going
Well done Rachel
Although Rachel from Accounts decisions will undoubtedly lead to further pubs and restaurant closures, a load of layoffs and reduced hours in the hospitality sector, in this specific case I think TGI was a basket case for a long time before she added a load of extra taxes.
There are just too many of this "mid" chains serving at best ok quality food at an inflated price. It all went a bit mad 10 years or so ago where it seemed everybody who had a successful restaurant tried rapid expansion and the private equity people also tried to put rocket boosters under every concept.
A number of these basket case retailers/caterers seem to fall through the hoop, get saved for a pound by investors with the business acumen of the chap who ran Trump Casinos, and then fall through the hoop again. Is there some genius scam that I am missing.
Its a bit like Mike Ashley buying up all these shit busto high street shops. I honestly don't know what the play is. AFAIK, they don't own the real estate (so it isn't like the PE play for Morrisons, who are sitting on masses of prime lots, so they do the sell and lease back or sell to developer).
In the US, one move is the retail "squatting" i.e. you have the long term lease on somewhere prime in an upcoming and area at a reasonable price, you try to run at b/e for a number of years, the area booms, the leaseholder sees everybody else around is charging multiples for their rents, they pay off the "squatter" to break the lease early.
But restaurants are high running costs, so I don't get for chain restaurants compare to in the US Mattress stores are a classic for retail squatting.
Mike Ashley is running shops on minimum cost basis - piles of stock, next to no staff etc. he buys shops and converts them to this model, then runs them until the brand name is gone.
Running a slowly contracting/ending business can make money, as well.
Good news from an unexpected place. The Trump administration is making efforts to increase nuclear power.
Early this year, the NRC is expected to make public a revision of its regulatory code. The Energy Department is on track to review, approve and demonstrate multiple small test reactors at the Idaho National Laboratory this year. The Defense Department has started a program to offer contracts to deploy small reactors at military bases. In anticipation of safety reviews of those reactors, the Energy Department is revamping radiological health standards, setting practical thresholds for exposure rather than assuming, without well-established epidemiological evidence, that exposure to vanishingly low doses of radiation creates significant public health risks. Energy Department standards will likely become the template for revisions at the NRC and the Environmental Protection Agency.
I have been saying for years that, if you think global warming is a serious problem — and can do arithmetic — you will favor more nuclear power. Currently, we get about 19 percent of our electricity from nuclear power. source: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3 (France gets about 75 percent, so you can see we have a ways to go.)
At this point, I must add that I am also in favor of continuing to expand solar and wind power generation. (In some places they make sense, even after you include the cost of storage facilities.)
The disposal costs are the issue where you have the 'polluter pays' principal. In other jurisdictions you simply fold the company at the EOL of the power station and pass the disposal costs onto the taxpayer. So someone that won't be about to suffer the results of their decision may think this is a good deal.
Comments
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_evolution_of_the_United_States#/media/File:U.S._Territorial_Acquisitions.png
In current USD terms it was just under 50k in 2012 and only 32k today. That’s a massive loss of buying power, unprecedented in the rich world.
At constant FX it’s less dramatic: a rise from 33 to 37 in the same period if we base it on 2015 USD. But that still represents a loss of ground relative to other countries.
There’s still a chance they give him a total win .
Or in Thomas's case with whatever billionaire gave him a lovely gift he somehow forgot about.
Agents descended on the Virginia home of Hannah Natanson as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified government materials. The Post is “reviewing and monitoring the situation”, a source at the newspaper told the Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/14/fbi-raid-washington-post-hannah-natanson
Well done Rachel
There are just too many of this "mid" chains serving at best ok quality food at an inflated price. It all went a bit mad 10 years or so ago where it seemed everybody who had a successful restaurant tried rapid expansion and the private equity people also tried to put rocket boosters under every concept.
In the US, one move is the retail "squatting" i.e. you have the long term lease on somewhere prime in an upcoming and area at a reasonable price, you try to run at b/e for a number of years, the area booms, the leaseholder sees everybody else around is charging multiples for their rents, they pay off the "squatter" to break the lease early.
But restaurants are high running costs, so I don't get for chain restaurants compare to in the US Mattress stores are a classic for retail squatting.
(Only a bit over a year ago the Greenland/Canada/Mexico thing was a joke.)
A lesson to all those who look on the NHS as a religion; using private practice is a very good idea to reduce the waiting lists
And on PMQ's did Starmer really refer to the Kama Sutra re the conservative party ?
He really has lost it and I noted he went full on v Farage who seems to be living in his head
Maybe devote more time to getting policy right first time as Streeting demands rather than obsess over Farage with 13 U turns
"illegally retaining classified government materials."
NEW THREAD
Good news from an unexpected place. The Trump administration is making efforts to increase nuclear power. source$: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/12/trump-nuclear-energy-climate-change/
I have been saying for years that, if you think global warming is a serious problem — and can do arithmetic — you will favor more nuclear power. Currently, we get about 19 percent of our electricity from nuclear power.
source: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3
(France gets about 75 percent, so you can see we have a ways to go.)
At this point, I must add that I am also in favor of continuing to expand solar and wind power generation. (In some places they make sense, even after you include the cost of storage facilities.)
Power to the people, I say!
(Incidentally, it appears that the administration is — mostly — beginning to execute plans made by the previous administration.
source: https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/us-sets-targets-triple-nuclear-energy-capacity-2050 )
Running a slowly contracting/ending business can make money, as well.
I have been saying for years that, if you think global warming is a serious problem — and can do arithmetic — you will favor more nuclear power. Currently, we get about 19 percent of our electricity from nuclear power.
source: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=427&t=3
(France gets about 75 percent, so you can see we have a ways to go.)
At this point, I must add that I am also in favor of continuing to expand solar and wind power generation. (In some places they make sense, even after you include the cost of storage facilities.)
Power to the people, I say!
(Incidentally, it appears that the administration is — mostly — beginning to execute plans made by the previous administration.
source: https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/us-sets-targets-triple-nuclear-energy-capacity-2050 )
The disposal costs are the issue where you have the 'polluter pays' principal. In other jurisdictions you simply fold the company at the EOL of the power station and pass the disposal costs onto the taxpayer. So someone that won't be about to suffer the results of their decision may think this is a good deal.