leicsmac

Ha! Well, in the spirit of it... Sesquipedalian: "given to or characterized by the use of long words"

Right, and unless the issue is addressed properly, such migration will be on a scale barely imaginable, let alone witnessed. I can't quite understand the sentiment of people who advocate for reduced migration levels but then ignore or downplay what is going to become the most massive cause of it in recorded history. Unless, of course, they simply want to shut the door and are fine with countless millions of people suffering and dying.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cvgzn11v421o New forecasts show increasing confidence that the developing El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean could be one of the strongest on record with warnings of record global temperatures and huge humanitarian impacts. Parts of the Pacific have been warming rapidly with data this week showing sea surface temperatures around 0.5C above normal - one threshold used to suggest the onset of El Niño, a natural warming of the Pacific. It is expected to strengthen over the next few months, peaking potentially as a very strong - or so-called super El Niño - in the autumn. Scientists are concerned about the consequences it could have on global weather patterns, including the likelihood of 2027 being the warmest year on record. Record breakers. Again.

Yeah, which is where some of the laughter gives way to fear and aghast, given the amount of power that man has and abuses, and the consequences that result. I take him deadly seriously, for the most part.

We all have the privilege of living in very interesting times, that's for sure. Presumably no more than the rest of the sane world laughs at Donald Trump (when they're not aghast at the very real harmful consequences he's engaging in), but yes, it must be Burnham, there's no other viable option. I'll be honest, that scenario appears to belong more in a tv show than real life, but given how politics has become more and more facile and fastfoodin this social media society (ideal for apt con artists like Farage)...

And one would hope that whoever is doing the homework here would have ensured whatever seat Burnham would be parachuted into would be absolutely bulletproof. But these days, who knows?

Have there been any other kind for the last decade?

It would be the blackest of comedy, yes How long will it take for Burnham to be eligible from here (if he wins the by-election)?

This whole matter becomes more nonsensical by the hour. Unfortunately, such are the fast food, social media driven times we live in. Three cheers for democracy, huh?

Streeting opting for personal ambition over national future, then. Goodness only knows what will happen now.

Sadly, I don't doubt it.

No disagreement there. That being said, why have consistency when you can make as much as you can for as long as you can, run things into the ground, then buy it up through a shell company and do it all over again elsewhere? That's consistent in of itself. I would hypothesise that the more noble model you speak of is the exception rather than the rule when it comes to business models today.

That used to be the optimistic maxim. In these days of mega, globe-spanning companies that have a large market share, does it really hold true that often?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7pyrj0vx7o In other news, Cuba is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe, and is pretty much being blackmailed.

Exactly. Appeals to Nature are so logically and morally flawed. Botulism toxin, the fish with spines that swims into a human urethra and extinction are all natural. As a supposedly intelligent species, we should be demonstrating that intelligence by both knowing and doing better.

Each demographic of humans is different, with differences that other groups might not know about, and that's not in any way problematic by itself - if anything, it's a benefit. The problem is when uncertainty about that gives way to suspicion, followed by enmity and then hostility - or worse, supremacist thought and action based on the same. Communication, interaction , knowledge sharing and understanding between groups is the answer to that, not gated and fenced enclaves by demographic. At the end of the day, we all have more in common that not, and the divides we put up between each other are mostly of our own making and simply don't have to exist.

And even if they are, such tribal bigotry simply isn't a long term survival strategy for our species. Which means it's something we'd need to overcome anyway.

And it's the overall Joker-in-the-Dark- Knight message, too. "I'm going to prove that deep down everyone is as tribal and bigoted as I am, that way I'm entirely justified in my bigotry and my belief that a better world isn't possible, so let's just accept the tribal status quo with all the oppression, ethnic cleansing, death and suffering as rote, OK?"

Sometimes it's rather difficult to separate one from the other, but I see what you mean.

Has taking such a moral high ground actually worked anywhere in the last decade where these issues have really been the hot button ones? In any case, the policy platform of parties like Reform in the UK and elsewhere represents a threat to everyone, not just certain demographics (at least in the long term). Perhaps that's a better accusation to level.

Glad you got checked out mate, can't mess around with those symptoms, can easily be something nasty. Happy to hear that it wasn't.

I dont quite believe that there was a single person involved at the Beeb that didn't see this coming. I mean, it's in the actual lyric itself, guys.

I'm sure Buffalo Springfield and Johnny Cash, among others, would be very disappointed to hear that, given their own musical messages. (Were they still with us.)

It's been said here before, but I'll repeat it; other comparable democracies to the UK appear to have a stronger social contract in place, and less wealth disparity. A decent hypothesis might be that is one of the main reasons why their politics appears to be less fast food (and less unstable) than that of the UK.

When it suits them, which is itself hypocritical.