Cycling UK Forum

Trump has done/is doing all that I expected, only faster than than even my worst imaginings.

As for Vance, I never thought that I would be wishing and hoping that Trump remains in office.....

I cannot see HMG increasing "defence spending", either absolutely or as a proportion of GDP, to the extent necessary to e.g. join an effective peace keeping force in Ukraine. Europe is about to roll over and embrace the new USA fascist-capitalist world order. The class war is finally lost.

As commented above, we are in the shredder.

The outlook is truly frightening. The ostriches will be out in their SUVs buying, borrowing and consuming as usual today ..... so that's alright then......

pete75: "I can understand how someone who swallowed all the cold war propogand can think like you. The USSR has gone so you need another bogey man to frightne the kids with. It ain't gonna happen though."

By education I'm a (marxist) historian, by belief a socialist. Cold War propaganda believer I was not. The class war is more than enough with which to frighten the kids. That the winning class is now wearing different political clothes doesn't change the adversaries. The varying and vying ruling classes are now simply all ultra capitalists.

^ NATO minus USA a different matter. Without current US support Ukraine will lose, unless the rest of NATO fills the gap. Once Ukraine loses, other border states will be taken. Once Poland falls all further bets are off.

Pete75: "No matter what happens the Ukraine is very unlikely to repay us for the aid we're giving. It's just throwing away our money."

Throwing away implies to no benefit. I reality we're having Ukraine spending on our behalf to contain Russia. And Ukrainians are dying on our behalf. It's going to cost us a whole lot more, in money and lives, if we choose to abandon Ukraine, while wanting to remain free from Russian control.

My word is my bond!

^ roubaixtuesday: "We will see, but I can't say I'm optimistic. A dark day, today."

And not just for Ukraine. Will we go down with Europe or become a USA buffer dependency?

Fiver gone to your charity choice.

A quick n dirty analysis suggests that to counter balance ending of USA support for Ukraine other current backers, incl UK, will have to double their spend.
Are UK taxpayers up for this? Germans? French?
Obviously smaller states nearer to Russia have no choice.

roubaixtuesday wrote: ↑21 Nov 2024, 1:59pm

djnotts wrote: ↑21 Nov 2024, 1:32pm @roubaixtuesday: "I'll take that. What stake?"

I did say "small" so a fiver? From now until Trump's inauguration.

Done!

I'll nominate a Ukrainian charity for my winnings

@roubaixtuesday. IOU you a fiver. Given Trump's upcoming deal with Putin and his abandonment of Europe in general I'm not yet sure of another wager! Something related to how prepared UK and other European countries populations are to sacrifice >5% of GDP to defence.....

MGate wrote: ↑7 Feb 2025, 8:58am The old style levers (pretty cheap ones) aren't very good - just a linear pull. The revised lever (2011?) was much better. I upgraded an older Brompton (easily ID'd by the old style chainset) with new levers and new calipers much better performance.

Plus 1. IMO/E the more recent levers and calipers are much better than the the originals and are as good stoppers as any calipers I have used. I have 2014, 2017 and 2022 models - all are equally as good. Better pads maybe, different hardware, no need.

Yes, more bravery.

Not public services specific, but nice to see our special relationship will run to the artificial.......

"The UK and US have not signed an international agreement on artificial intelligence (AI) at a global summit in Paris.

The statement, signed by France, China and India among other countries, pledges an "open", "inclusive" and "ethical" approach to the technology's development.

Downing Street said the UK "hadn't been able to agree all parts of the leaders' declaration" and would "only ever sign up to initiatives that are in UK national interests".

Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance told delegates in Paris that too much regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) could "kill a transformative industry just as it's taking off".

Vance told world leaders that AI was "an opportunity that the Trump administration will not squander" and said "pro-growth AI policies" should be prioritised over safety. "

^ Courageous. The authors and supporters are heading for a bad place. How many will be prepared for lengthy jail time or death to keep to their principles and beliefs?

Engineering a reason for the additional, final, demolition of a development site, rendering restoration/rebuilding too costly, depressing the sale price and lessening the cost of site-clearance ....standard real estate practice.

"US President Donald Trump has said if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages from Gaza by midday on Saturday, Israel should cancel the ceasefire and "let hell break out"

Ahead of a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah later, Trump suggests he may withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they don't co-operate with his plan to take control of Gaza and resettle the population in the two countries.. "

Wonder when I'll be able to book my hols at Gazusa...

Never liked the d/t position - especially in town riding. Bar cons better. On my only drop bar bike I use bar end on left/front - the worse of my arthritic wrists and triple STI takes more effort/longer "swipe"than a 9 or 10 rear.

Getting beyond comment....

"I'm committed to buying and owning Gaza. As far as us rebuilding it, we may give it to other states in the Middle East to build sections of it. Other people may do it through our auspices. But we're committed to owning it, taking it, and making sure that Hamas doesn't move back," he said, without explaining who he would buy Gaza from and how the US would own it.

"There's nothing to move back into. The place is a demolition site... The remainder will be demolished," he added. "But we'll make it into a very good site for future development by somebody."

Trump said people from all over the world would be able to move to Gaza and promised to "take care of the Palestinians".

"We're going to make sure they live beautifully and in harmony and peace and that they're not murdered." (BBC News)