Recent posts

#61

Off the Record / Re: Iran War

Last post by Sheilbh - April 28, 2026, 03:42:09 PM

I think almost certainly at least partially related to the war but not solely (there's been disputes brewing) but UAE leaving OPEC. I think they're one of the largest producers (though Saudi still massively ahead of everyone else) so quite interesting.

#62

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by crazy canuck - April 28, 2026, 03:18:13 PM

Historically Americans in general have not paid much attention to what happens in Canada.  So I am not surprised that has not changed.

#63

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Baron von Schtinkenbutt - April 28, 2026, 03:07:42 PM

Feels like a lot of people think "too bit to fail" applies to nation-states as well...

#64

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Valmy - April 28, 2026, 03:01:55 PM

I am impressed how quickly things are changing to meet the American threat.

I am impressed with how little the US media or the people give a fuck. Millions of hours of coverage of ballrooms and Presidential tweets. Zero hours on our collapsing relationship with out biggest trade partner that will cost us billions.

#65

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

Last post by Sheilbh - April 28, 2026, 12:47:36 PM

I went to one in the run up to Iraq and during Tory leadership challenges and it was really good. I think we had Jack Straw who was the Foreign Secretary, Charles Kennedy in his pomp opposing the war as leader of the Lib Dems and Ken Clarke who was Europhile Tory big beast (who'd lost the last leadership election). They were admirably candid for a bunch of spotty teens (I think because - like the ambassador they genuinely want to encourage nerd children who are into politics).

Separately Starmer has beaten the Tory motion. The vote went 335-223. Given that there are over 400 Labour MPs and there was a three line whip that doesn't seem like a great result.

I'd expect the Socialist Campaign Group (effectively the hard-left caucus) to vote for the investigation. Lots of other Labour MPs said they'd vote against but urged Starmer to refer himself to the Privileges Committee.

Edt: Yeah so 15 Labour MPs voted against the whip - basically the SCG. But about 50 abstained or did not vote. I think that's worse than expected and as I say if the briefing about Number 10 seeing off a rebellion were true, they wouldn't have need to impose a three line whip.

#66

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

Last post by The Minsky Moment - April 28, 2026, 12:27:14 PM

On the other hand bit of a shame this got leaked as these types of events exist and I suspect any civil servant or politician doing them in future is going to be a lot less open/unguarded.

I visited Dick Cheney with a group of college students when he was SecDef in the early 90s.
His response to a question of whether the Gulf War was more about oil than about defending Kuwati sovereignty was: "Of course it was about oil.  You didn't see us getting involved in the Libya-Chad war."

#67

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by crazy canuck - April 28, 2026, 12:14:59 PM

I am impressed how quickly things are changing to meet the American threat.

#68

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

Last post by Sheilbh - April 28, 2026, 11:58:19 AM

Britain's new ambassador to DC was recorded speaking to sixth formers on a trip to he US and giving some rather unguarded remarks - in fairness all points I basically agree with. So he said that Starmer's future was "quite touch and go" but he's "stubborn", if Labour does badly in the locals then it might get enough peopleto remove him. The "vetting thing's a bit of a red herring" and the fundamental problem was Mandelson's associations. On that he was struck that in the UK the Epstein scandal has brought down "a senior member of the royal family, a British ambassador and potentially the Prime Minister" while in the US "it really hasn't touched anybody". Also noting that the "special relationship" is a bit of a nonsense phrase and mainly historical and that the only country the US has a special relationsip with is Israel.

From what I've read this recording was made in February and then held on to until now when the King's doing a state visit and there's all the votes over Mandelson in the UK. I believe Starmer's looking for his sixth communications director - and he could do a lot worse than trying to find that 18 year old who held onto this for two months for the point of maximum damage   (Edit: I mean that sort of media management had me thinking of Death of Stalin "Peter Mandelson would be loving this").

On the other hand bit of a shame this got leaked as these types of events exist and I suspect any civil servant or politician doing them in future is going to be a lot less open/unguarded.

#69

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Grey Fox - April 28, 2026, 11:23:47 AM

A sovereign investment fund is a long overdue step in Canada's coming of age as a country rather than a colony. It's great news.

#70

Gaming HQ / Re: Victoria 3

Last post by Crazy_Ivan80 - April 28, 2026, 10:18:45 AM

• Ships can end up with the name MINE.

Minesweepers super overpowered in this patch.

in the french version it's "MIME"