michaelc
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May 17, 2024 14:47:38 GMT
Post by michaelc on May 17, 2024 14:47:38 GMT
But I thought you're quite happy for companies based or doing business in the UK to be owned abroad? Or is it only the staff you're quite happy to be from Europe but you'd rather the companies themselves were British owned? I just want to understand what it is you would like to see? Wha...? Sorry, you've lost me. In case you've forgotten, it's been publicly listed for north of a decade. Can any publicly listed company really have a nationality ascribed to it? The single largest current shareholder, 28%, is a Luxemburgish asset management house, Vesa Equity Investment, which is the vessel for Daniel Křetínský's investments. He's merely buying another 42% of equity from the other global investment houses that form the rest of the top ten largest shareholders, and the remaining 30% from people like me... I hope a change of ownership (if that's what it is, from 28% to 100%) feeds down into management and they become more competent. Beyond that... <shrug> It was you that highlighted that Royal Mail will be under foreign ownership. I was wondering what you'd like to see eventually? Perhaps no countries and a united states of the world ? Or what ?
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michaelc
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May 17, 2024 14:01:09 GMT
Post by michaelc on May 17, 2024 14:01:09 GMT
Something I sent out to a (as it turned out, incomplete) UK address in March was returned as undeliverable yesterday. The return sticker is dated 19/3... Hey-ho. Royal Mail is going to be Czech-owned soon. The 2013 floation price was 330p. The offer price is 370p. But I thought you're quite happy for companies based or doing business in the UK to be owned abroad? Or is it only the staff you're quite happy to be from Europe but you'd rather the companies themselves were British owned? I just want to understand what it is you would like to see?
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 17, 2024 12:29:45 GMT
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 16, 2024 14:07:14 GMT
Fico is not a Russian Puppet any more than Orban, he is just an independently minded politician from a country with historical links with Russia who is acting in the best interest of his country. Hopefully he will make a full recovery. The guy who shot him is probably some moron who does not think for himself and is caught up in all the emotional propaganda, there are a lot of those about these days... Fico and Orban both where opposed financial support for Ukraine. They are both russian puppets. Perhaps Fico did not go low enough on his knees and this wasn't liked at kremlin. independently minded politicians - really ? acting in the best interest of his country - really ? there are a lot of those about these days... - tell me We're all Russian puppets but we don't speak russian and you don't speak english.
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 14, 2024 14:36:41 GMT
I do not have a preferred endpoint I am merely pointing out how Russian Nationalists - such as Putin - see things from my understanding of their perspective. My only interest in this situation is to see this war end ASAP since it is very obvious to me the only thing that is going to happen is a large number of Ukrainians are going to be killed in a war they cannot win AND more importantly I do not want to die in a nuclear war. Ukraine and Russias dispute over territory is nothing to do with me and I dont believe in getting involved in things that are not my concern outside of humanitarian and self preservation interests. As you are already aware I am of the view that western meddling in this situation has made it ALOT worse for Ukraine.
Err, Budapest Memorandum anyone ? "Under the agreement the Russian Federation provided security assurances to Ukraine in the form of promising to neither attack nor threaten attack them." Well as usual, you cant believe or trust a russian !
I believe the US and the UK have an obligation to support Ukraine for them giving up the nukes. Do you think russia would still have attacked had Ukraine kept hold of the nukes
Do you honestly think they didn't want to take Kiev back in February '22, 60km tailback of military vehicles, remember that ? Of course they had every intention but through bad intelligence, bad planning and a dire operation they were pushed back in retreat (oh sorry, a goodwill gesture from russia I think they called it !)
<My numbering>
1/ So yes, it IS your concern.
2/ Yes, they will push further into Ukraine given the opportunity. 3/ Yes, we need to continue providing weapons for as long as Ukraine want to continue.
4/ Yes, russia cannot be allowed to "win" 5/ Yes, russia needs to be held accountable and slung out of of every international group, committee, council, organisation. 6/ No, we dont need russia.
rant over ..
That (bolded) is an obvious but good point IMO. I agree with point 2 also but think that would be based on opportunism rather than something they would seek in an eventual settlement. i.e. if they broke through the lines and there will little more defences they'd march on.... 3 probably but as part of a team not a loan wolf waiting for its head to be struck off On 4, we can't stop it. 5 agree 6 agree Oh way, didn't you also say I'm a Russian spy or did you just agree with someone that did? What weight should we give to the arguments of someone who enjoys goading victims?
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michaelc
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Trump
May 14, 2024 1:27:23 GMT
via mobile
Post by michaelc on May 14, 2024 1:27:23 GMT
Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen is testifying at a New York court in the ex-president's historic hush-money trial.
This must be worth following
One of the key people in the current case is Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg. However, he isn't due to give evidence, partly due to the fact he is currently incarcerated, serving several months for committing perjury in the last Trump-related trial he participated in.
Looks like the only person in this cae that hasn't been to prison is Tango man himself.
Don't worry there is still time for him follow in Nelson Mandela's footsteps....
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 13, 2024 18:08:39 GMT
Sunak warns 'world closer to nuclear escalation than at any point since Cuban missile crisis'
And to think I was accused of scare mongering a few pages ago.Actually there's quite an irony as it seems to me Sunak's administration is actually more gung ho than even the USs. Look at us regularly being first to p i s s the bears off such as the latest announcement that the us is British weapons to attack virgin Russia is fine and also the statements regarding supplying arms to Israel as evidence. So we draw a massive target on our back and then start to prepare the population for possible nuclear war in case they don't re-elect Sunak again.... I don't know who accused you of scare mongering, but you seem to regularly state that those who are in favour of support for Ukraine are being oblivious or playing down the risk of a major confrontation with Russia. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those who were quickest right at the outset in '22 in stating/acknowledging how dangerous the world had got are by and large the exact same people who have been advocates of supporting Ukr. What they aren't generally doing is jumping up and down at every new action/step/development and declaring how awful it is because its increasing the risk of a greater war. The difficulty that you and a couple of others have on here is that you are not able in your mind to square the circle and understand that these are entirely compatible, and logically reasonable, positions. You assume that advocating for military support for Ukr - with all the inherent risks that go with it - requires one to ignore/be impervious to the risks of much greater - including nuclear - conflagration. It is not. It is very much the contrary.On the flip side, I'm conscious you have advocated on here on multiple occasions for a settlement with Russia that would include a large (your words IIRC) western - indeed you have I believe specifically cited NATO - force to be stationed on Ukr territory in a buffer zone. As a peacekeeping/enforcement force. There are only a few things I can think which would increase the longer term risk of nuclear confrontation with Russia more that that. Which is just one of the reasons why it ain't going to happen (not in the way you have expressed at any length). I don't think I've said we shouldn't provide military support. I'm a little on the fence about it but on balance support it - certainly for the more defensive weaponry. What I am against completely, is jumped up little Britain with a neglected army but the biggest target possible for virtually no reason. Why not work with our Nato colleagues so that we work together and provide support. We are now even more aggressive/assertive than the US. We are definitely starting to see the consequences domestically: The fact that conscription can even be discussed. The PM of the UK talking about greatest chance of nuclear war and also that the next 5 years will involve more change than the last 30.
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michaelc
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Trump
May 13, 2024 15:04:26 GMT
Post by michaelc on May 13, 2024 15:04:26 GMT
** Didn't make [Editor: DJT] I derived some pleasure from looking at the fixed, sullen expression on Trump's face as he listened to the precedings. I'm half-hoping that he will commit contempt of court again and be sentenced to a few days in jail. Not as much pleasure as I get from seeing which way the polls are moving. projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-general/2024/national/
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 13, 2024 12:29:04 GMT
Sunak warns 'world closer to nuclear escalation than at any point since Cuban missile crisis'
And to think I was accused of scare mongering a few pages ago.
Actually there's quite an irony as it seems to me Sunak's administration is actually more gung ho than even the USs. Look at us regularly being first to p i s s the bears off such as the latest announcement that the us is British weapons to attack virgin Russia is fine and also the statements regarding supplying arms to Israel as evidence.
So we draw a massive target on our back and then start to prepare the population for possible nuclear war in case they don't re-elect Sunak again....
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 12, 2024 21:02:55 GMT
Oh boy would that be good news ! So just to confirm: you are in favour of Ukraine being thrown to the mercy of whatever Putin wants by way of denuding Ukr of any military support ? Rather than allowing them to go into negotiations in a stronger position by virtue of their at least being able to offer credible military resistance ? What do you think Putin should ask for ? Just the Crimea and Donbas ? + Kharkiv ? Kyiv (presumably not that as you have personal financial interest there). Installation of a puppet regime in hock to Putin ? A la Yanukovych, whose popular ousting and Putin's chagrin at that is after all one of the major reasons 2014 and 2022 happened ? Or are you genuinely of a view that Trump is going to 'end the war in 24 hours' by taking Putin/Russia down, rather than chucking Ukr to the wolves ? Don't you mean bears ?
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 12, 2024 20:05:53 GMT
This is the guy you mean? Is that for real? Quite funny if not a cut 'n shut editing job.
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 12, 2024 18:10:22 GMT
Oh boy would that be good news !
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 12, 2024 16:35:43 GMT
Interesting article but don't really see the parallels. Can you confirm you believe the primary reason to the Russian invasion was Ukraine's mineral wealth ?
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 12, 2024 14:53:51 GMT
Look at what they are actually doing ... its all shaping & probing attacks ... poke here, prod there, crumble the line ... spread Ukr resources, stretch the manpower to exacerbate the shortages. Much of the Russian advance is reconnaissance in force to fix Ukr positions for bombardment by glide bombs, drone, artillery. Keep an eye on Vovchansk, Russians are isolating it by taking out bridges. While everyone was watching Chasiv, they have made significant gains from Avdivvka, south of Kypiansk, are now in Robotyne, and now Kharkiv area ... its all about pressure Certainly pressure in places, but the rate of advance overall is unimpressive. Someone calculated they could reach Lviv in 320 years at this rate. Meanwhile they burn through stockpiles at far greater rate than the Russian economy can replace. Vovchansk certainly could eventually be vulnerable but if you look at the map, it is in the middle of nowhere. The advances are all bad news of course. I wonder if Mr Saver will be on here in a few weeks saying "told you so" if Russia takes Kharkiv. I hope not.
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michaelc
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Post by michaelc on May 12, 2024 14:50:26 GMT
Just been chatting with my Ukrainian friend, who last night returned from ten days back home, helping her stressed-out brother relax. She last saw him three years ago, since when his hair has turned grey.
Lana is from Russian-speaking Ukraine but was staying in the relatively safe western part (and needed to speak Ukrainian for the first time in 40 years). Life is relatively normal there, though the sirens sounded once - no-one took much notice. She had a lot of work done on her teeth, at much lower cost than here in the UK. Her brother is a paramilitary firefighter and in his absence his colleagues were required to register for the army - as women will be in a couple of days' time. She has a British passport, but presumably that would not make her exempt.
Once back in England she had a lot to tell their mother, whom she "rescued" after the invasion ...
An article in today's Sunday Times notes the main reason for the invasion was Ukraine's strong resources of many minerals.
I agree the dentists are cheap but also better IMO mostly because they have much more time for each procedure. In Kyiv at least, the equipment seems similar. Their training is now mostly american led/inspired but I've little doubt if there were any odd things here and there (not many but I bet some) tricks present in the Soviet system they incorporated them too. Extractions for example, seem to be much less painful an ordeal than here. I didn't know about females now being called up (or soon to be) ? What ages? Pretty bad. Your last sentence I do find hard to agree with. Russia has a vast wealth of natural minerals on its territory. Would it really invade its erstwhile little brother just to get even more ? I just can't see that.
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