Steven P

So, how is he doing this week? The Gaza ceasefire is holding, with only non aggressive missiles and killings from both sides. Still in the first 24 hours of his presidency, the war in Ukraine is still on going. Latest offering is that the Ukraine give up more ground than the Russians currently occupy, walk away from any thoughts of NATO membership and accept that 'The West' will protect them, Russia will stop invading. Might be cynical but that was the deal after Crimea wasn't it. He did sign to get the Epstein papers released... shortly after persuading the FBI to create 'active investigations' into some of those named in them (Clinton and others) - meaning most will not be released. Most of the papers containing allegations about Trump will be heavily redacted (black marker pens!) or used as a part of these investigations. His dementia is getting worse - classic signs are shown almost every day (aggressive, incoherent and so on), as well as falling asleep in the oval office in front of the press. Almost like he was right when he said an 80 year old Biden was too old... an 80 year old Trump is also too old to be effective. His 'people' have stopped treating him like a make-a-wish kid, so perhaps they have learned how to handle him better. Laying into all reporters he doesn't agree with as 'stupid' or commenting on their appearances... forgetting of course that the press are his mouthpiece to the world at large. Still not a rip roaring success, unless you are his bank manager. So what is the alternative? JD Vance has been slipping in the opinion polls as the heir to the throne. Very quiet that one, though he did pop up this week to ask the military if any of them actually like turkey

Get into power, launch a crypto currency, make policies that the government will support crypto currency more and take a commission for each of yours that you sell. Trumps are now worth more than his property empire (reputed to be billions), from nothing at the start of the year. That one? To continue the thought from above, Trumps fortune has rocketed since he was elected for the 2nd time, much of it profiting from his position. The other biggie is his ballroom, first touted that he would pay the 200 million from his own pocket but now it is 300 millions, and 'others' are paying for it - big corporations who will not be doing that out the goodness of their hearts, they will want their payback, Trump will want his name on the ballroom, a $300million bung to get his name in lights for eternity. Big corporations will need to say the payback on capital invested will be returned double or more. But... a sure he is an honourable man (?), all he does is for the good of the US and the greater world.

Like the shoulder to crayon...

That's true, but... all politicians change their minds yearly, I wouldn't be surprised if they reinstate it next year as a 'isn't the government wonderful to you' gift though. I tend to only count for the coming year because I have no clue what they will change in the next budget. (edit here: With inflation I guess you could say that fuel duty being frozen for the year, not being linked to inflation makes it a drop 'in real terms'... but would be grasping at straws to say that... though I have a vague memory of about 10 years ago a chancellor trying to sell us that line)

Done the sums last night, broadly speaking they'll be taking the same tax from me as before. What did amuse me though is that -even before she had stood up to speak- the Daily Mails calculator was headlined by "How much MORE will YOU pay"... not saying they are biased but... in their actual calculator when I looked they (and the Telegraph) only asked about what will put your tax bill up so any gains from it were not included "Do you drive an electric car" but forgetting fuel (petrol) duty being frozen as an example. Bit of a bland budget to be honest, nothing to get too wound up about, and nothing to get excited about either.

Of course, this was always there, even under the Tory government that you voted for. Just an increase in the cash 'reward'.

Mind, I reckon there will be some AI bot at it sometime...

I have 'zombie' hands - it is a thing (though I suspect might be a combination of cold hands and oil if I have been playing in the garden with the toys) - taps (sorry, faucets...) with automatic sensors, hand driers, stupid help yourself tills at the supermarkets, all in the hope that someone will invent something better than what we had up to 10 or 15 years ago. Weirdly the chip n pin machine - the important one to take my money, doesn't have touch screen... and works 100% of the time

Thought he had gone to court? But the law has to be fair and even.

However a woodland isn't a short term thing so you probably have the time to do that. The mindless ones might flatten a few but once the rest are established the gaps can be closed over.

not posted any, but have hundreds of the sunset out the window, some nights cannot help but take a couple

It is extra work, needs more space but if it is a problem then a thorny hedge keeps all but the most determined away

There has been a few comments over the years saying the same, put a proper axle / wheels on them for towing

I see the children responded, so will post again on topic.

Predicting the questions, but what are the ground conditions?

Problem with 'just needs his signature'... all good, he can sign it away however Trump has asked them to start, and they have done, an investigation into Clinton and others. Anything that is evidence in those investigations will not be available or will be heavily redacted in case public knowledge could be used to influence future juries. He hasn't suddenly changed his tune overnight to hang himself, he has put in place a procedure to keep a lot of the files locked away for another few years. Any of the incriminating videos and photos cannot be released either if the images contain a minor (schoolgirls / schoolboys). JP Morgan Chase were chasing (excuse that one) the $$ that Epstein was sending their way. I think they have paid some compensation out for this? Khashoggi - only half listened to that clip last night, Trump was saying something like "Many people didn't like him anyway".. so that is OK, 'we' didn't like him so it is OK to murder him.

Yes, a real branch! Lady there got upset when suggesting I upgraded my phone "but what will you do when we only do apps" - pointed at the different bank opposite "I'll just go do my banking with them"

My news said "Major websites" are affected, guess that is Arbtalk then!

Is it all mixed waste or will for example gardening jobs one day, tree jobs another? Tree waste, you can look at the local tip sites, might get a donation and there are some around that will take chip as well. I am assuming here apart from paying for the council tip

That makes me laugh "Morning Sailor" as an insult from the man who spends his working life on a boat 'sailing' when not scuba diving to install wind turbines, what a tool. Perhaps it is not an insult, perhaps it is a fantasy, there he is in his latex gimp suit, bobbing about, just waiting "Why, hello Sailor!". Bubba.

phones... still use a 'basic' phone, mostly because it pisses off the bank every time I go in there, but also very satisfying to know that when I am out and about my nose isn't glued to it - all it will tell me is that I phoned my mum last Wednesday. All it will tell the advertising bots is... I phoned my mum last Wednesday. There are benefits, but, not sure they are more than the brain drain it is creating. I bubble will burst when the predicted advertising revenues don't match what they sell they will.

Is it panto season all ready, oh yes I would.... Generally I'll pick up my battery saws instead of the petrol ones as it is just now, so that's where I'd be heading in the future (OK, if I had the finances for saws, probably get both, that's true)

There were rumours that Trump had paid quite a lot of money to some very young men in his earlier years... only saw that story once so always thought it was not so credible till this week

And likewise go back to sniffing your Scuba gasses.

Should I paraphrase. You are also saying here that Trump is innocent until proven guilty arn't you? As for why he is calling for their release, I won't be holding my breath that they will be released even of all the US politicians vote for it. You hold your breath if you like. Trump is also pressurising the FBI to open the investigations into the likes of Clinton... and all the files will then be needed in that investigation - cannot have them in the public domain. Got to read the news and keep up to date if you want to comment on Times 'Man of the Year'