leicsmac

Erudite. And where exactly does that pathway leave us? Nowhere good. As much as the sentiment is logical right now (Russia, China and the US all appear to be singing in harmony there), I'm wondering where a world divided into Cold War era blocs (but with even more division) based on nationalist superiority leads us in the next couple of decades, given the ascendancy of world changing technology and increased resource crises. I know I keep asking this question, or along similar lines - but that's because no one seems to want to give a full and/or reasoned answer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0ng4eyr3xo Interesting take from John Simpson on how in terms of foreign policy, 2025 may be a very interesting year.

Thought that at the time, surely the editor messed up big time there.

Yeah, he's clearly had access to far more information (both privileged and otherwise) than the man in the street so it's interesting to listen to the expertise. I'm also pretty sure that he knows that way of things playing out leads to only one logical outcome, but clearly he feels he can't do anything about that.

Pretty much what the man said. But I fear that traditional bloc nationalism of that type cannot survive the modern world. "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." - Charles Darwin That goes for ways of living, as well as organisms themselves.

As someone who bowls more deliveries off the cut strip than on it, it gives me heart to see that trained professionals sometimes do it too.

...so the hard currency of the future is military might? Yeah, there's only one way that ends. I hope that he's wrong. I fear that he's right, because he knows his stuff, clearly.

Mine tends to be flights, most common/ likely route between any two airports.

VDM has been the bane of the England teams existence for the last few years. It was a little satisfying to see him have to front up in the MotM interview.

It's like England can only be good at any one format of the game at a time.

If they do win, it's yet another sign that history can be cyclic and what happens next in that cycle is rather ugly.

Any one you walk away from.

Rather error strewn, this.

I agree, everyone needs to play their part. (The Chinese are doing better, the Indians less so.) And on that front, part of being a great power, if you really want to change the world for the better, is leading the way. If the US choose not to do it, that's their choice, but what they do both in terms of the issue itself and attempting to get others to follow suit, along with the other leading powers, matters.

Should have scored there.

Pretty blatant foot in touch as Scotland broke there. Amazed neither touch judge nor TMO thought to see our check it. Thankfully it hasn't appeared to be too damaging.

Disappointing.

And a quick response.

Yeah, as sporting weekends go, this one could be going better.

Need one or both of these this over.

I don't think people are accepting it, and I think that they shouldn't. I think, with good reason (I hope), that the current policies of this administration - environmental, equal rights, immigration and similar - seek to benefit no one outside of those who voted for them (and even then it's a bit debatable concerning all of them) and show a lack of concern for anyone else and indeed for themselves in the future. They speak, often very loudly, for themselves. If I'm mistaken and policy can be pointed out that does in fact show concern for people outside of the orbit those in this administration find favourable or show concern for the welfare of non-human life and biodiversity whatsoever, then I'd be happy to hear about them. The details of the policies and orders themselves - a simple one being reversing the restrictions on plastic straws and the pollution they cause. Numerous other examples exist. Like I said, if I'm wrong and this is actually a caring and empathetic administration, I'd be happy to be proven wrong, because if I am, it means that civilisation has a better chance of lasting longer. For me, this isn't ideological - unless you count the preservation of life and of a world that is (roughly) the way it is as an ideology.

Breakthrough.

If these two are still in by the end, I don't think so. Need two wickets.

Have to break this partnership and get Maxwell too before the end I think.

What's your take on the 20 minute red cards, Finn? I think I like the concept.