Election Year or Fear!

[swaledale]

Mm so a wee bit of a hiatus in the peace negotiations, with Trump and vance revealing their utter lack of expereinc ein such matters.

Of course when the "art of the deal" is based on holding all the cards and power, then having to actually negotiate a deal which involves compromise and some give and take on both sides, then Trump is always going to be at a disadvantage. if one adds to that his well known lack of patience, inability to see the wider picture and a deluded belief in his own ability and negotiating "skills", this could either run for a long time or, and I believe this to be ore likely, result in him throwing his toys out of the pram and trying to bomb Iran into submission.

Oh well I guess ifone puts a deranged idiot in charge of one of the worlds biggest armed forces, disaster is almost inevitable.

[ramAnag]

...and in a curious reversal of roles you prioritise economic trade over human lives. That's normally my stance.

Soooo predictable, and that isn’t what I’ve done at all. The examples you’ve used were, unquestionably, appalling atrocities but they were never going to start WWIII or lead to chaos, hardship and instability across the world.

[SithHappens]

Lol…point well made, not sure any one charging 13.95 for a chicken liver pate starter deserves a tip…not a financial one anyway.

This whole tipping/donation business is a bit questionable anyway, imo. Last weekend I visited Chatsworth - just the farm/playground NOT the actual House. It cost 10.00 to park and 43.00 for two adults and two grandchildren to enter and the first thing I was asked was, ‘would I like to make a donation?’
I politely declined on the basis that by paying 53.00 to visit somewhere I had yet to set foot in I thought I’d probably ‘donated’ enough. Doubt I was the first to make that point as the lady seemed unsurprised.

What gets me with tipping is now as many restaurants you pay when you order, they give option to tip...why would you tip before your meal? I also think in the age of minimum wages there is less requirement to tip. I dislike the American culture of tipping so much.

[SithHappens]

Mm so a wee bit of a hiatus in the peace negotiations, with Trump and vance revealing their utter lack of expereinc ein such matters.

Of course when the "art of the deal" is based on holding all the cards and power, then having to actually negotiate a deal which involves compromise and some give and take on both sides, then Trump is always going to be at a disadvantage. if one adds to that his well known lack of patience, inability to see the wider picture and a deluded belief in his own ability and negotiating "skills", this could either run for a long time or, and I believe this to be ore likely, result in him throwing his toys out of the pram and trying to bomb Iran into submission.

Oh well I guess ifone puts a deranged idiot in charge of one of the worlds biggest armed forces, disaster is almost inevitable.

Has likened our PM to Chamberlain. Better Chamberlain than Hitler as is his closest comparison surely.

[Andy_Faber]

What gets me with tipping is now as many restaurants you pay when you order, they give option to tip...why would you tip before your meal? I also think in the age of minimum wages there is less requirement to tip. I dislike the American culture of tipping so much.

Likewise, I’ve grown to quite like USA but the tipping culture really puts me off. We had a couple of ‘run ins’ on our recent visit, one with a porter who wanted a tip for allowing us the privilege of handling our own luggage!

[SithHappens]

Likewise, I’ve grown to quite like USA but the tipping culture really puts me off. We had a couple of ‘run ins’ on our recent visit, one with a porter who wanted a tip for allowing us the privilege of handling our own luggage!

Our first ever visit to the states to new york, we had booked a shuttle transfer and despite promises of a maximum 30 minute wait it was closer to 90. On arrival at hotel I decided not to tip due to poor service and the driver properly went ballistic at me. I told him service was poor and he said its irrelevant you tip regardless, I still didn't.

[ramAnag]

Orban ousted in Hungarian elections. At last…some better news.

[Andy_Faber]

Our first ever visit to the states to new york, we had booked a shuttle transfer and despite promises of a maximum 30 minute wait it was closer to 90. On arrival at hotel I decided not to tip due to poor service and the driver properly went ballistic at me. I told him service was poor and he said its irrelevant you tip regardless, I still didn't.

Similar story here. We took a shuttle bus to the airport in Miami (under a mile, five minutes) and were 'rebuked' by the driver for not tipping (if we'd wanted to we couldn't as we'd used all our cash). We were also rebuked by another, a stewardess, who confirmed that she, and all her colleagues, always tipped 5 dollars because the driver 'needed it'. I gave her a quick lesson in 'math' (5 dollars x 20 passengers x 4 trips an hour x 40 hour week) an she admitted on that basis that he'd be grossing twice her salary just in tips (NB the driver was salaried!). Her colleague sitting with her quite simply didn't believe the (undeniable) maths (and yes he may not always have 20 passengers and yes not everyone would tip 5 dollars but she said a full bus was typical

NB before the usual suspects pile in, including one who said he didn't understand tipping culture last week, Mrs F and I are very good tippers for good service

[Andy_Faber]

Orban ousted in Hungarian elections. At last…some better news.

The Smurfs will be furious

[ramAnag]

The Smurfs will be furious

Not sure I ‘get’ that…but Farage, Putin, JD Vance and DJT won’t be best pleased.

[Andy_Faber]

Not sure I ?get? that?but Farage, Putin, JD Vance and DJT won?t be best pleased.

I?m sure they?ll take it in their stride to be honest

[ramAnag]

I?m sure they?ll take it in their stride to be honest

You reckon? Well DJT (probably thinks the J stands for ‘Jenius’?) seems to be striding towards alienating not just all his natural European allies but also the Pope.

So let’s see…that’s the world’s two biggest religions and most of Europe he’s currently managed to put himself at odds with, not to mention Greenland, Mexico, Canada, Venezuela and Cuba. Great work Mr. President.

[MadAmster]

You reckon? Well DJT (probably thinks the J stands for ‘Jenius’?) seems to be striding towards alienating not just all his natural European allies but also the Pope.

So let’s see…that’s the world’s two biggest religions and most of Europe he’s currently managed to put himself at odds with, not to mention Greenland, Mexico, Canada, Venezuela and Cuba. Great work Mr. President.

Ah but yes but no but... he is good at getting into bed with Putin and Kim. He'd like to do similar with Xi but China is doing great at international trade and DJT doesn't like that. He loves dictators, it seems, and desperately wants to be one.

[ramAnag]

Ah but yes but no but... he is good at getting into bed with Putin and Kim. He'd like to do similar with Xi but China is doing great at international trade and DJT doesn't like that. He loves dictators, it seems, and desperately wants to be one.

Now posted a picture of himself as Jesus, although he claims he’s ‘a doctor who makes people better’ and has taken it down.
The plot has been seriously lost. Please America, of whatever political persuasion, just get rid…your leader has to be officially insane and is becoming more dangerous by the day.

[Andy_Faber]

Now posted a picture of himself as Jesus, although he claims he’s ‘a doctor who makes people better’ and has taken it down.
The plot has been seriously lost. Please America, of whatever political persuasion, just get rid…your leader has to be officially insane and is becoming more dangerous by the day.

Genuinely interested rA, what sort of relationship do your USA-based family (who I assume are republicans) have with Republicans? Fair go if you don't want to share