Steven P

There you go an 'unedited' web page to show an equal and opposing view that most Americans like the man. Highest approval rating before he took office and dropping quickly the longer he is in office. Half the population surveyed (the women) are dead set against him (I do wonder why, did I ever highlight his attitude to women?), anyone over the age of 45, anyone who is non-white or educated. That is a good chunk of his population. Here ends todays lesson that for every link you might find there is usually an equal and opposite. Donald Trump approval tracker | The Economist WWW.ECONOMIST.COM Follow polls showing how favourably Americans view their president and which issues are shaping their views Here

I edited your text for you to correct it: I reckon if I looked I'd find a similar clip with an opposing view, doesn't mean either clip speaks for the full population.

And since the current POTUS is Trump, the news feeds are never quiet. US Stock market tanked the day after he imposed 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Today 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico have been suspended for now. Good to see that he is executing his sound financial knowledge onto the lives of Americans. Wonder how many billions were 'lost' today on the stock market?....

Still not quite getting it are you. So a quick recap, The US were supporting The Ukraine - rightly or wrongly depends on how you view finances and human life - and The Ukraine have counted on that support to defend itself, protect it's land and people against an aggressor. Built a strategy that is working based on continued support, the support agreed by US congress. Then Zelensky rocks up in Washington and - get this - wasn't wearing a tie, so Trump has a hissy fit and withdraws the support with immediate effect. Giving the green light for the Russians to invade further in the spring. The Ukrainians will run down what stocks they have, and then be defenceless. And be slaughtered. Be a very different thing if Mr Ego had given more than an hours notice for support to be withdrawn - that void could be filled over time. But with no notice, just an ego fuelled power trip, he has condemned thousands to be killed. That is the problem being highlighted and that you are missing with semantics, futile forum point scoring attempts and blindness to the written word. You all appear to think it is OK to throw them into the killing fields without a means of protection. I don't. I think so long as you value the $$ above a human life fighting to protect their homeland against an aggressor then we are going to always disagree.

I'm denying everything.

... though they have -probably- had a rug doctor in there since I was last in it... -probably-

I think you are reading this how you want to read it and not the words I wrote. Point is that sometime, burying your head in the sand, someone elses problem, doesn't work. Have to act. In the case of the Ukraine it is not a NATO issue, the UK has no remit to directly intervene. Neither does the US, or many other countries. We can, and do, provide equipment and as much support as we can. This is the right thing to do otherwise 'in my poor examples' burying the heads in the sand as someone else problem will end up with the problem on our doorstep. The US also has a duty to enforce previous ceasefires - as agreed - but are failing to do so and under the current president are stepping even further back. Stepping even further back is condemning more Ukrainians. You are an educated man, and I cannot understand how you are failing to see that Trumps actions will result in more deaths... deaths of the aggrieved, the ones who were invaded (illegally by the way). All well and good having a political stance, right or left, but political views have never stopped Republican presidents doing the right thing before. (now as for Why Trump is stepping back, there are other issues afoot however that is for another day, and do revolve around the mans fragile ego)

Every now and then you need to look over your back fence to see what is happening out there in the world, take an interest and perhaps take some responsibility to everyone. We are fortunate as a rich nation that we have cash to spare, might not like spending it but we have it. Going back 80 years if we'd said "Ahh, it's only Poland, nothing to do with us" "Ahh, only Belgium" "Ahh, only France" (or as it might have been many of the North African countries, or in Asia), we'd have been a very lonely beacon for about 3 weeks and then a part of the greater Germany. I think this is one of those times when we need to look over there, and take an interest, invest, and realise that globally citizens need our help This is a good thing to do. Head out of arse time, do something.

However it is perhaps the most fair way to compare which nations are actually making a sacrifice to support The Ukraine and how much. We could compare it to taxes, I use this example because it is something we all understand. Going by how much in $$ or ££ we give, a minimum wage student giving say £2000 a year in tax compared to a high earner on £100k+ giving £2000 a year in tax, the minimum wage student is giving a comparative vast amount and by doing so will be suffering great hardship. The high earner might have to wait an extra month before they upgrade to the latest 100" TV, and that amount doesn't cause any hardship at all. The basis of almost every welfare state, where society pulls together for everyone is based on a % system, we understand and accept this. So what is the issue with comparing how much we are giving to support those in need as a %, it is not a new concept, alien to our way of thinking, or perhaps it is your agenda that is embarrassed that instead of a great saviour, massive sacrifices, there are other countries out there (including the UK) who are actually making a bigger sacrifice?

Only saying.... Time for Trumpy to step up I think.

Gareth, it is true that Europe is rich enough to defend itself, but that transition needs to be managed better than just suddenly turning off the taps as it were. As a part of NATO, Trump does have a point about fairness, we all spend the same % on NATO stuff... but again... to ensure security that transition needs to be gradual and not all and then stop. 'We don't like you Mr Trump...."... however he is only the figure head of the US, as a country we do still like the US, we do still want to work with them, but Trump is a blip in the way of a continued and good relationship. Temporary as well, 4 years time he'll be moving on, the world has to manage him until such a time as a competent leader is elected.

And in the last century this peace was backed up by bigger boys either side of Europe. When one of the bigger boys decides to take their toys home there is going to be an imbalance, which will affect peace in the near future. Immediate affect will be Russia keeps up its invasion in Ukraine, many more deaths knowing that Europe doesn't have the mandate to cross over there to help out - can only send hardware - and knowing that the US are walking away as well. .. but Gareth (here is the pointed dig)... that is all OK because the US is not spending money, and the lives lost are only Ukrainian solders.

Glad you got sorted (Wigan is a bit far south for me - I tend to cross country on the A66 rather than Manchester way, drivers are a bit less mental more north)

I reckon so. So, for the OP, all good to get rid of the trees and put something different in.

Silly answer I know... just had a day in the Lakes, could have dropped one down... if I wasn't on the train! 1' Pine, fell over the other week. Invaluable tool, I have one in the garage for kindling and general hitting stuff on and one outside. Outside logs last a couple of years before they are too chewed up with the axes. What town is nearest you?

Might be wrong here but I think the house in question is south of the snippet Mark, just west of the railway (U of the river, town centre, few gardens, East of the red road, posh houses - bigger gardens, west of the railway smaller gardens, between railway and red road Barratt hutches as far I remember)

'idealistic stance'.. if you don't start your negotiations with your ideal, or better, you are always going to get shafted. Don't start with realistic in case your opposition won't budge unless you do, and then you are getting double shafted. Never start with their ideal position in the hope they will just say "OK" - they will use that as a starting position to gain more concessions. "Roll over and surrender" gets negotiated as "Roll over, surrender, give up the territory and also pay reparations for the invaders losses" after negotiations.

Not sure about the soil type - an area I know a bit - Yarm centre is in the U of a river bed though suspect this house is above the flood plain. Locally there are clay soils... but not sure about this estate. Cracks in the wall but not the garage... could all be due to foundations, lesser foundations on the wall. I'd also consider removing the trees - they will grow higher over time, for a fairly small garden will block the light. If the garage is sound and the clay is shrinkable, and affected by the trees, letting them grow larger will only make any future problems worse, or create problems with the garage.

Also look to the tip sites if you haven't done that (link above)

Exactly!! Protesting shouldn't be illegal! (however criminal acts alongside a protest, vandalism, assaults, and so on should still be punished of course) Edit: To reiterate a point. If I protest, I'll take time off to do so (paid time off), a government employee, also takes (paid) time off to do so, Students, with no fixed 'hours of work' take time off to protest, no difference. If I take time off, the job still needs to be done, I accommodate that, if a government employee takes times off then likewise, and if a student takes time off, then they make accommodations to make up the the work not done that day - with no fixed work, the working on a Sunday is no big deal (with me, maybe a bit of an ordeal, travel to work, open up and so on), but assignments still need to be completed.

Did a similar thing with the boys at the local museum, 50mm pipe I think, screw in car valve, foot pump and a paper rocket weighted at the end, flew a good 15 to 20m - still rising as it hit the far wall. Actuator was a 12V shower valve and launch pipe 15mm plumbing - think that's the difference between the 2 is that the stored energy can be released quicker through a 32mm launcher. Good fun, so in the garage, still be to be built is a nerf-gun rocket launcher, I reckon it should have enough energy in for 20 nerf bullets. I'm assuming here an electrical actuated valve, looks like they are £200+ ? Do you reckon you could get a quick enough opening speed with a manual valve?

Ahh, but I am not funded by the tax payer, so can do what I want, nothing illegal for me. My views are not being repressed by Trumps ego.

However, as mentioned before "look over there, that guy is also bad so ignore this guy"... topic of the question in the POTUS thread is Trump and his ego isn't it? Topic of conversation in the Labour thread might be Starmer... who hasn't just banned protests at his leadership. Big Ego Trump has. Remember his strop last week that Zelensky didn't fall at his feet fawning, offended his ego, strop.

'On the clock' which is the point of Students, they don't study in a traditional 9 to 5 way, might be a couple of hours lectures in the day, some library work, evening study and back in the library at the weekend... so who is to know if the time they spend protesting is actually eating into their study time? However it is another of Trumps clamp down on anyone who criticises the egotist.

Ahhh, smoke and mirrors again..... Ignore Trumpy.... look over there..... However Trump is pertinent in the POTUS thread I think?