Easter Bank Holiday 18-21 April 2025

[refitman]

Morning all.

[Frog222]

Morning

I wondered if this was legit, anything is possible ! But it seems to be --

[Frog222]

I had that Trumperie on repeat for a few minutes while I stoked the stove and prepared coffee,

more would have been Torture !

[Frog222]

Ramblings ( from Trump) --------------------->

[Frog222]

Even though I disagree with so much of Meloni's politics, she has impressed me with her unusually outspoken support for Ukraine, here on a good number of video clips --

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... kraine+war

So her WH meeting faltered when an Italian journo posed the Wrong Question but that was skated over, and Trump even toned down his previous position that it was ALL Zelenskyy's fault !

[Frog222]

Good account here on the journo asking Meloni that Wrong Question --

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... mp-meeting

[Frog222]

Very good piece here, I wonder what AK would make of it ? ---

Though it talks a good game in the regions, and sees the potential in some judicious “old Labour”-style positioning, Reform generally aspires to satisfy corporate greed rather than challenge it. Its general election manifesto pledged to slash corporation tax as well as inheritance tax rates, and drastically raise the threshold for paying the higher rate of income tax. Loyal national types are wooed by mining of the darker seams of communitarian angst: “small boats” rhetoric, the promise to take Britain out of the European court of human rights and boilerplate attacks on “diversity”.

Depressingly, it appears that Starmer and McSweeney’s Labour continues to view blue-collar voters primarily the same way – to be courted through crackdowns on immigration and a high-profile focus on crime and policing. It is fatuous politics to play down the importance of either issue in Reform-friendly constituencies and beyond. But this remains a desperately narrow, limited interpretation of working-class values and preoccupations.

Cummings’ insight throughout the Brexit period was that in regions such as South Yorkshire and Tyne and Wear, there is a hankering for – and a memory of – a more collectivist politics than the exploitative rentier capitalism presided over by both the main parties for decades.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... ess-labour

[refitman]

Remember when we were repeatedly told that Labour weren't actually going to impoverish the disabled and they actually really cared about them?

[Frog222]

Reminder--- must check figure of 0.44% of Scots over 16 being trans. From Sky's link.

First thought on seeing first item on G online front page. Reeves crawling to Trump on "TRADE deal-----

Traitor.


Zzzzz !

[refitman]

Labour MPs are really good at saying something stupid and then getting mad when people call them out on it. The replies are wonderful.

[gilsey]

Morning.

Re the White House bling. If you didn't laugh you'd cry.

[gilsey]

Labour MPs are really good at saying something stupid and then getting mad when people call them out on it. The replies are wonderful.

Yes, I saw that one.

I suppose if you've a large majority the quality of the candidates may have been a tad variable.

Apparently he's a former NUS President, so is Streeting I think? Is that statistically significant.

[Frog222]

Checked , just for my info because I had no idea before --

" For the first time the 2021 census for England and Wales set a voluntary question about gender identity that asked: “Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?” Of those who answered yes, about 2% did not speak English well. But of those who answered no, around 13% did not speak English well.

The gender-critical feminist Kathleen Stock criticised the question as being “couched in obscure genderese” that would “stump non-initiates”. Stonewall, the LGBTQ+ charity, said the figures “finally paint an accurate picture of the diverse ‘Rainbow Britain’ that we now live in”.

The overall proportion of trans people in England and Wales gleaned from the census (0.55%) is in the same ballpark as the 0.44% for Scotland. Statisticians north of the border posed a clearer question in their 2022 census: “Do you consider yourself to be trans, or have a trans history?”
https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... -wales-ons

[refitman]

Always remember that regret rates for people transitioning is LOWER than regret rates for hip replacements.

[Frog222]

Snatches from Isabel Allende , at The Times --

" My grandchild was the first person I heard of who defined herself as “non-binary”. “What’s that?” I said. At the beginning, I didn’t understand what was going on. She wanted me to use other pronouns; she changed her name. She shaved her head, then she chopped [off] her breasts… I understand why and I respect her. "

" My daughter-in-law fell in love with another woman. So my son ended up with three babies in nappies. He moved nearby so I could help. It was difficult, but we managed. "

https://archive.ph/fG2mp

[Frog222]

" Farmed" is now a pejorative word !

" Scottish salmon producers allowed to remove ‘farmed’ from front of packaging

Government lawyers say ‘no need to include unnecessary pejorative words’ after campaigners appeal against change

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... indication

Here the word 'élevé" (raised) is still obligatory , I'm glad to see !

The pollution and suffering in that farming is quite something, together with the hottible effect on wild species ....

[Frog222]

Always remember that regret rates for people transitioning is LOWER than regret rates for hip replacements.

Haha refit, another one I had in the back of my mind to check .
( Won't stop me doing it for myself tho )

[Frog222]

[Frog222]

https://bsky.app/profile/clairelew.bsky ... 6fqxfxms2k

[Frog222]

The Chinese are in lockstep with the Witches , all taking the piss out of JD and his sortofa relationship with the Big Orange One --

[refitman]

I'm sure it will shock everyone, to see that the Observer thinks the Supreme Court ruling this week, was a good one.

[refitman]

Rowling in good company, with her choice of celebration (see also Nigel Farage)

[refitman]

This is quite nicely done

[Frog222]

First LOL of the day, this title --

JD Vance and his forty 4x4s visit the Vatican during trip to Rome
https://archive.ph/Zzq5e

Aside from the official part of his programme, Vance said he was looking forward to spending Easter with his family in Rome, a city that “really lifts up the human spirit” and was “built by people that love humans and love God”.

( Don't mention the Crucifixions ! )

[refitman]

I like this message that was left