michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Apr 28, 2024 15:31:17 GMT
I see the Sunday papers - at least my one - are full of rumours that Tory "rebels" are plotting to oust Sunak (again) and go on a 100 day policy blitz to win back support for the party. With the headline policy being "to curb immigration". Has anyone explained to loonies who seem to now make up a large portion of the PCP that the Tories recent history of having revolving door of leaders is a good chunk of their problem. The next big chunk of their problem is the endless stream of unfit to be in office retrobates that they seem to have, with the endless sequence of scandals of financial or personal propriety implications. If you think their MPs are loons you should see who they field locally.
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Apr 28, 2024 13:53:22 GMT
I agree at one level that the import of fuel from an unstable middle east is the immediate security issue, however if we ,godforbid got in a fisty cuffs with our Russian friends those cables are very vulnerable and lpg transported by sea from the US is also. That spare cheap electric from the EU may not be available for long as transport and heating goes electric in Europe at an increasing rate gobling up capacity. I know people do not like it but solar ,on shore wind and that magic large scale economic storage I think is the long term answer if the tecnical storage issue is solved. Nuclear energy will play a part but it's not really renewable and it is expensive. The likelihood of Russia destroying undersea cables under the English Channel or North Sea is not high.The likelihood of them cutting undersea gas pipelines under the Baltic, otoh... Oh, wait. As for consumption - it's fallen markedly over the last decade or two... Energy efficiency! Low-energy lighting, increased insulation, more efficient machinery and appliances. And, yes, also the move of manufacturing offshore... The peak was around the early '00s, nearly 400TWh. Last year was around 300TWh, lowest since the mid '80s. Evidence? No me neither but I suggest the more war mongering leaders we have in the west with similar views to yourself, the more likely it is we will indeed have the world war you seem to crave.
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Apr 27, 2024 22:51:03 GMT
I don't bother with the main ballot where my vote counts for 1 in 100,000 or so.
I pay £2.09 every month which gives me the right to a 1 in 100 (for an MP) or 1 in 15 (for a councillor) plus I get the candidate(s) bending over backwards to secure my vote.
Great democracy we have.
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michaelc
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Trump
Apr 27, 2024 18:26:22 GMT
Post by michaelc on Apr 27, 2024 18:26:22 GMT
Can I have £5 on Biden being alive, not necessarily "all there" and Trump if alive either being President and thus totally innocent or wearing a suit that matches his skin tone Innocent of what ?
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Apr 27, 2024 14:31:38 GMT
That would make things interesting - she's the religious nutter one that's against pre-marital sex, homosexuality (not just equal marriage), abortion, Sunday trading, etc etc. Do you mean she has a moral compass unlike the liberal establishment who now appear to be directly pushing the celebration of women who don't have children. Being childless yourself, I'm sure you wouldn't disagree. www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c72pnllv8nko
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Apr 26, 2024 14:56:46 GMT
To me it shows what a mess the tax system is in. Needs vastly simplifying.
I suspect Angela's problem is not so much she broke some rules some years ago when as a lawmaker she ought to conduct her own affairs to the highest standard. No I don't think that's it. Its that she is representing some of the poorest people in the country - they probably don't like to see her talking about which house she was living in. Of course the Tories are often far, far wealthier but they represent different interests.
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Apr 26, 2024 14:52:45 GMT
Their outcomes statement gives a total loss figure which seems pretty impressive and (as far as I can understand) considers loss of both capital and interest. At around 0.5%, it looks good! And they’ve been around for donkeys’ years (in P2P terms) so that’s a positive as well. However, in the outcomes doc they mention an autoinvest rate of 6% (~5.5% net with predicted losses), which is only a smidge above current savings rates available with full FSCS protection. Overall they seem like a stable, long term business with more skin in the game than the average P2P outfit, so all the best to them! I'm happy enough with my HNW investments. I have a current XIRR of 7.1%, but will be nearer 9% if the accrued interest from my loans in default get paid. I don't use the auto account, but it currently pays 7% and has some pooling protection, so it should return the full 7%. Obviously, no guarantees. Well if the forum is happy with HNW there's surely nothing to worry about right ?
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Apr 25, 2024 22:13:14 GMT
If you're thinking of voting for Labour expect a milder version of this, that's what they always do. If charismatic Keir has a stroke or gets depressed or has an affair and has to resign then we get a Putin sympathizer running the country.
What we'll get is having to pay for hundreds of thousands of box houses built in place of the green belt. Labour voting city dwellers won't notice the difference so its perfect (for Labour)
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michaelc
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Trump
Apr 25, 2024 22:07:43 GMT
Post by michaelc on Apr 25, 2024 22:07:43 GMT
Lets rewind a little. You said the west should set an example that encourages others to follow. Or similar wording. Correct? Can you explain why ? Can I refer you to the wording of both ECHR and UN Universal Declaration? I think they stand for themselves. Which bits of them do you disagree with? You said the west should set an example that encourages others to follow. Or similar wording. Correct?
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Apr 25, 2024 21:34:24 GMT
She'd have been quite easy on the eye a few years ago...
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michaelc
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Trump
Apr 25, 2024 14:43:50 GMT
Post by michaelc on Apr 25, 2024 14:43:50 GMT
Lets rewind a little. You said the west should set an example that encourages others to follow. Or similar wording. Correct?
Can you explain why ?
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michaelc
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Flying
Apr 25, 2024 14:37:16 GMT
Post by michaelc on Apr 25, 2024 14:37:16 GMT
Used Revolut in the past but dont like them as they're not a bank and some places don't accept them (including many airlines onboard ?)
Had no problem with Starling and seems to provide similar functionality as revolut including very good exchange.
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michaelc
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Trump
Apr 24, 2024 21:59:12 GMT
Post by michaelc on Apr 24, 2024 21:59:12 GMT
Trump is the most peaceful president in the US for many years. Could you explain what you mean, please? I don't. I think human rights should be universal, and should be universally respected. The difference is that we in the democratic west should be leading by example and helping to bring those countries up to our standard. Instead, the US (in particular) is sinking to their level. Although, tbf, we're having a good crack in the UK at the moment, too. I think you're the person that has regularly stated it is Ukraine's absolute right to join NATO or do whatever the heck it wants (within the rules of the UN presumably). You forgot about countries like Switzerland somewhat needing to be neutral and thus not joining NATO but we'll park that. Now you claim some countries need to show an example to others. That would be a consistent position except for that fact you base those countries on them being in a particular fixed block "the west". Your argument would have been far more persuasive had you stated that the countries that should be leading by example should be those countries that maintain high moral standards and laws rather than a fixed set of countries known as the collective "west".
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michaelc
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Trump
Apr 24, 2024 17:45:10 GMT
Post by michaelc on Apr 24, 2024 17:45:10 GMT
A message from an ex-president elect who won the popular vote by 3 million to an ex-president who laundered money from russia.
Trump is the most peaceful president in the US for many years. And why do you care more about internal US human rights anymore than you do about say Saudi Arabia or Congo or Yemen to name a few. Religious police. _Public_ executions by sword. Basically what we might refer to as middle ages justice. Noone cares about that. But you care about abortion rights. Actually I agree that abortion shouldn't be so restricted and probably we in the UK have it about right. But there are far, far worse things going on in the world and we can't police every country or government we don't like.
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on Apr 24, 2024 13:20:29 GMT
My Ukrainian friend has just emailed to say that "I will be travelling to Western Ukraine, Lviv on Monday. My brother is coming to spend a week with me. He wasn’t in a good place, missing family, so I invited him to get a break from 2 years of stress and life changing experience. I’m travelling with an English friend who is visiting a girlfriend in Lviv. He is familiar with the route, goes regularly."
Her brother is a firefighter and has seen some bad things. Some of his colleagues have had life-changing injuries. His wife and daughter came to Britain two years ago, but their relationship has broken down.
Same thing happened to the mother of a Ukranian boy in my son's class. Both parents "strayed" and maybe one because of the other. But really, if you've got a 7 year old boy to bring up can't you just wait as long as it takes? Must be terrible for the boy and by all accounts he is the most disruptive in the class taking up more teaching resources etc... After 2 years with a brilliant sponsor, she is now having to find a place of her own and finding out just how hard and expensive property in this country is.
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