Recent posts

#21

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Valmy - April 16, 2026, 08:22:40 PM

You don't have to.

MAGA should leave. They are the ones who suck.

#22

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Grey Fox - April 16, 2026, 06:24:21 PM

You don't have to.

#23

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Sheilbh - April 16, 2026, 06:20:17 PM

On his third Cabinet Secretary, third Chief of Staff, I think fifth Comms Director and now cycling through Permanent Secretaries too. Amazingly the FCDO Permanent Secretary who has been fired is the only person (in the documents released so far) who challenged the decision of appointing Mandelson.

The case for it is presumably that the only civil servant who raised a red flag about Mandelson and whose department oversaw vetting then decided to override the vetting report without informing any ministers...

We're now at the stage of anonymous ministers and SpAds briefing that Starmer needs to go (if only they were in some sort of position to influence the course of events ).

Private Eye putting together clips from an interview with Starmer in 2020 about how he never turns on his staff and being a leader is about carrying the can

Edit: The real irony of all this is that Mandelson's predecessor, Dame Karen Pierce was actually really well regarded. She'd been credited with really reviving the British Embassy in DC after a couple of decades of complacency (and the French stealing a march) - particularly on building ties with Congress - but she'd also worked very well with both Trump and Biden administrations, because by all accounts she's a fantastic diplomat. She was one of several competent respected non-political people fired by Starmer when he came in because Labour didn't really want that type of continuity (see also John Bew) - and it created space for New Labour grandees to return. On the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy ending of this we end up with Starmer stepping down and Karen Pierce sailing into Whitehall as the new Cabinet Secretary

Edit: Sorry he'll also be moving onto his third Permanent Secretary at the FCDO as well - Starmer specifically recruited Robins from the private sector in January 2025 (Robins held various civil service posts before moving to the private sector - he was May's Brexit negotiator and Europe advisor for her and Cameron, DG of the Civil Service before that  etc).

#24

Off the Record / Re: Iran War

Last post by crazy canuck - April 16, 2026, 06:16:40 PM

When are people going to learn that Russia and the Trumpists are acting in coordination. 

Trump can't even act in coordination with himself.

They just parrot RT propaganda either because they are being paid off (Witless and the Trump Org) or because they are too dumb to know better (Gabbard etc)

Yes, that is the coordination I was referring to.  It does not imply that the Trumpists are doing the coordinating.

#25

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by garbon - April 16, 2026, 05:42:59 PM

I see he has gone the sack someone for this route like he does every single time.

#26

Off the Record / Re: Facebook Follies of Friend...

Last post by Baron von Schtinkenbutt - April 16, 2026, 05:42:36 PM

Lulz.  Basically what I think every time I hear someone pining for the "good old days" 5+ years ago in college sports.  I mean, I hate seeing my school's basketball team poached from as much as anyone, but I don't want to force the kinds to stay there either.

#27

Off the Record / Re: Facebook Follies of Friend...

Last post by Valmy - April 16, 2026, 05:34:51 PM

Damn NIL and liberal transfer policy.  Don't worry, Trump's Executive Order on college sports will fix everything!

#28

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Valmy - April 16, 2026, 05:28:36 PM

I am getting pretty tired of the United States and its bullshit...which is unfortunate since I live here.

#29

Gaming HQ / Re: Europa Universalis V confi...

Last post by crazy canuck - April 16, 2026, 05:27:45 PM

Here's one (of many) things I can't understand.

So why is the cost of building, for instance, a tool workshop different in two different provinces of mine, within the same market?

The first option is to draw from local goods before the market. If there are local goods available, then the cost of production will almost always be lower than the cost of obtaining those goods through the market.  The construction will also be quicker. There are also a bunch of other factors that effect the cost, but I don't remember them.

I don't think the cost increases if the pops who will populate the building after completion are not available.  One of the reasons to construct a building is to allow for the opportunity for those pops to be created.

#30

Off the Record / Re: Iran War

Last post by The Minsky Moment - April 16, 2026, 05:25:28 PM

When are people going to learn that Russia and the Trumpists are acting in coordination. 

Trump can't even act in coordination with himself.

They just parrot RT propaganda either because they are being paid off (Witless and the Trump Org) or because they are too dumb to know better (Gabbard etc)