TorquayFan

The 'Authorities' seem to use national occasions such as Songkran, to push a general message for greater road safety. And why not of course? However, road death statistics historically show that the average daily toll historically is about 38 deaths a day - (80% + of those due to motorbike accidents). 38 daily includes deaths which occur later away from the scene, in hospital etc., (but the lower figures often disclosed at Songkran can include immediate deaths only). Songkran congestion on major routes might actually make the main routes safer, with traffic moving slower? But predominantly, road deaths result from motorbike accidents, wild driving (drink or drug fuelled) together with passenger overloads, phoning while riding , not wearing helmets and so on. Whichever way you look at it, it's an ongoing tragedy and I see very little Policing going on from day to day. Surely, it's motorbike riders particularly that need more Policing to reduce the daily toll. Drive safely all.

Photo I ticked the 'confused' tab for you because your post was odd. I hold no brief for Starmer but he was 'Director of Public Prosecutions' before he entered politics. He reached the pinnacle in his legal career and is now PM. I wonder what the pinnacle of your career was ? Merit should be the only criteria . . .

Interesting angle, to question Trump's intelligence right now, in view of his daily bozo performances during this second term. Thanks Placeholder for the link, which I made work somewhere else and have copied. It does seem strange that Michael Cohen was instructed to suppress these details years ago. The truth I guess, was unpalatable! "Donald Trump and his representatives threatened the colleges he attended and the College Board that he would sue them if records about his academic performance ever became public, Michael Cohen said Wednesday in testimony to a House of Representatives panel. In explaining why he calls the president a con man, Cohen said, in prepared testimony, “When I say con man, I’m talking about a man who declares himself brilliant but directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges and the College Board to never release his grades or SAT scores. As I mentioned, I’m giving the committee today copies of a letter I sent at Mr. Trump’s direction threatening these schools with civil and criminal actions if Mr. Trump’s grades or SAT scores were ever disclosed without his permission.” https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/server_files/media/Trump_0_0.pngTrump attended Fordham University before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor's degree. Cohen released the letter he sent on Trump's behalf to Fordham, which cited the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which indeed would bar any college from releasing grades without the permission of a student or former student. The letter said that Trump had become aware that journalists were asking for his grades, and so he wanted to reach out. The letter said that Trump would "hold your institution liable to the fullest extent of the law" for any release of his records. The P.S. to the letter changes tone and says, "Mr. Trump truly enjoyed his two years at Fordham and has great respect for the university." A spokesman for Fordham released this statement to Inside Higher Ed: "The university received a call from someone on the Trump campaign as now President Trump was gearing up for his run. We told the caller that Fordham is bound by federal law, and that we could not/would not reveal/share any records (as we would not reveal any student records) with anyone except Mr. Trump himself, or any recipient he designated, in writing. Fordham received a follow-up letter from one of Mr. Trump's attorneys summarizing the call and reminding us that they would take action against the university if we did, in fact, release Mr. Trump's records. Our stance remains the same: we obey federal law and don't release student records to anyone but the student/graduate or anyone that the student designates, in writing." The College Board declined to comment on Cohen's testimony. Penn also declined comment. Cohen's testimony noted that Trump, in 2011, had "strongly criticized President Obama for not releasing his grades" Cohen noted that "Mr. Trump declared, 'Let him show his records' after calling President Obama 'a terrible student.'" Many replying to this and other Trump threads, seem to have been taken over by the cult and also, can no longer see reason. My conclusion. Trump is overloaded with cunning but lacks basic reasoning powers. hTTps://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/02/28/michael-cohen-testifies-trump-threatened-colleges-over-any-release-his-grades

Not an assumption CH - can be observed daily. A personal UK story - my eldest Son left the Royal Marines about 10 years ago and after active service, had ambitions of joining the Police or the Fire Service . I remember asking him how it was going and this was response - "it's very difficult Dad because I'm not black, brown, gay or a woman". That was his experience. IMO many many appointments are made on DEI criteria.

All appointments in all professions should be on MERIT alone. If 'minorities' are under represented, then they have to try harder. Merit the only criteria please . . .

Undoubtedly, I'd vote for the Penguin !!

Just to set the context, the rich USA has an average AFTER TAX income p.a. of about $55,000 which compares to China, about $12,000 , Europe around $30,000 and India/Thailand about $7,000, (in ALL these examples, a high percentage of the people are still relatively 'poor', or desperately poor, a function of inequality). If my sums are right, the USA's debt of $27 trillion, equates to c.$80,000 per man, woman and child, (excluding accrued State pension commitments). That's a massive National Debt, accrued to support unearned standards of personal living. $80,000 per person therefore, has been consumed by each citizen, funded by borrowed money. The question is, can that go on forever? I confess it seems unlikely to me, given that the borrowed money comes significantly from China, Petro States and so on. (In fact, if China starts selling short term bonds now the prospects for the USA are grim). The USA 'standard of living', has become an entitlement which will be hard to moderate - political dynamite in fact. But how do you escape the trap, if you can't go on borrowing indefinitely? (BTW the USA is not the only Country on this hook, e.g. the UK and mainland Europe). In short, a lower standard of living in highly borrowed nations, is inevitable, in the long term. Politicians should be talking, about THAT ! Any ideas Guys ?

How did I get that so wrong? It appears that Trump may be immeasurably worse than I thought he was. Thanks to Stephen for this - "No facts will emerge since there will be no investigation". I fear you are right Stephen - it will be an almighty task to get any independent evaluation, given the state of the Trump DoJ. At first I missed the Trump tweet about the tariff suspension - "A good time to buy". Trump's USA looks more of a mess every day.

Youre welcome Henrik. BTW Samet Dang has some Villa - one with a swimming pool. It's next to the Restaurant but still private.

JAS and Cam - for a laugh, here's a comment I just saw on the ADVFN website:- "China will target US farmers until Trump squeals like a hormone-grown stuck pig. They also just need to sell off a few bonds and he'll be forced to kiss their ass. Terrible humiliation coming for the Sunbed King." Yes indeed - genius ? LOL

Cam - I looked in the mirror, thought about it and made suggestions as I had previously posted. Genius ? Poppycock ! You think in a Trumpian dreamworld. None of what you wrote stands up to examination IMO.

(Sophomoric - 'intellectually pretentious, overconfident, conceited, etc.') JAS I commented before : "the mess Trump created will take a lot of clearing up - there will be many discussions before matters are repaired. Meantime, many will have suffered losses, some relationships will take years to repair and some may be irreparable. The unfortunate fact for Trump is that the US deficit is caused by citizens wanting to buy goods made abroad - that problem is still there! Most would have agreed with measured and specific actions to address the deficit, with targeted tariffs for a few, interest rates and taxation - because, in the end, as USA manufacturing will take aeons to regenerate, citizens still want to buy and the USA still has a deficit." JAS - I reject that accusation. ATB

Nice try Ivor 🫢 However, Trump is the living proof that your assertion, is NOT true.

Very droll Frogs ! Yet another brainless Trump speech, (observed not by a 'hater' but judged on merit). Ready - yes the mess Trump created will take a lot of clearing up - there will be many discussions before matters are repaired. Meantime, many will have suffered losses, some relationships will take years to repair and some may be irreparable. The unfortunate fact for Trump is that the US deficit is caused by citizens wanting to buy goods made abroad - that problem is still there! Most would have agreed with measured and specific actions to address the deficit, with targeted tariffs for a few, interest rates and taxation - because, in the end, as USA manufacturing will take aeons to regenerate, citizens still want to buy and the USA still has a deficit.

Whilst some will have benefitted from these market movements, and some will have lost, I don't go along with this theory of conspiracy. Is Trump actually bright enough to have manouevred such a matter? I mean, a 6 times bankrupt, 34 times felon, with a wife who seems to dislike him etc. Plus Trump liberation day was 'so simple' but Trump didn't understand it at all. The theory looks unlikely to me. But if Trump told anyone before he reversed on the tariffs, the possibility exists. Let's see if any facts emerge.