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How are your sober runs going?
So, this is nice, but I IMHO I would not make the assumption that "we are all alcoholics". Just because someone has a drinking problem or decides to quit after drinking regularly for years does NOT make them alcoholic. People who can quit on their own willpower, at least by AA's definition of alcoholism, are not alcoholic. They still have the will power or "discipline" to stop. They can do it on their own. Alcoholics are the ones who know they have to quit, try to quit, but go back to it no matter how great the wish or desire. This is alcoholism. -
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Trump’s mad, mad, mad, mad world—now with extra madness
Read my response just above this one. -
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Trump Revives Plan to Build $100 Million White House Ballroom
President Donald Trump has once again proposed building a grand $100 million ballroom at the White House, insisting he would personally fund the project. Trump, who has long criticized the use of temporary tents for hosting state dinners, reiterated his desire to create a permanent, luxurious space similar to those at his properties, including Mar-a-Lago. Speaking at a signing ceremony in the White House’s East Room, the largest indoor space currently available for events, Trump highlighted the need for a grander venue. “This room is packed,” he said, noting that there were “people outside that can’t even get in.” He recalled having made the offer before, stating, “It was going to cost $100 million dollars… I offered to do it to the Biden administration.” However, former officials from the Obama administration claim Trump originally made the proposal to them after attending a state dinner for the Indian prime minister, which was held in a tent on the White House lawn. Trump joked that he would now attempt to approve the idea himself. “I’m going to try and make the offer to myself,” he said, drawing laughter. “We’ll see if Trump will approve it.” David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Obama, confirmed that Trump had initially proposed the idea in 2010. In his memoir Believer, Axelrod recalled Trump’s disapproval of temporary event spaces. “I see you have these state dinners on the lawn there in these shit little tents,” Trump had remarked. “I build ballrooms. Beautiful ballrooms. You can go to Tampa and check one of them out for yourself.” Trump remained critical of the practice, later telling radio host Rush Limbaugh in 2011 that the use of tents for welcoming foreign dignitaries was disgraceful. “When a dignitary comes in from India, from anywhere, they open up a tent,” he said. “A tent! … An old, rotten tent that frankly they probably rented, pay a guy millions of dollars for it even though it’s worth about $2, okay?” During his 2016 campaign, Trump emphasized the safety risks of hosting state dinners under canvas and pointed to Mar-a-Lago’s ballroom as an example of what could be achieved. “What many consider to be the single greatest ballroom in the world,” he boasted. At the time, New York Post columnist Cindy Adams predicted Trump would address the issue swiftly once in office. “The White House lacks a big party space,” she wrote. “Galas scatter through separate rooms.” Despite this, no ballroom was built during Trump’s first term. The most notable architectural addition to the White House grounds during his presidency was a tennis pavilion designed under the direction of then-First Lady Melania Trump. Trump revived the ballroom proposal while speaking about his broader vision for renovations, including his recent suggestion to clear out and redevelop the Gaza Strip. Turning to Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, he mused, “We could use a bigger room, right, Marsha? It would actually be a beautiful addition.” Still focused on his longstanding issue with temporary structures, he added, “Somehow I think we’ve outgrown the tent stuff. Don’t you think?” Based on a report by The Times 2025-02-07 -
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UK Retailers Demand Crackdown on Chinese Tax Loophole
Major UK retailers are urging the government to take decisive action and close a tax loophole that allows Chinese e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu to avoid paying customs duties on small orders. The call follows a similar move by Donald Trump in the United States, where he pledged to eliminate the exemption that allows overseas businesses to ship small packages without incurring duties. Leading figures in British retail, including those behind Ryman, Robert Dyas, Superdry, and Gieves & Hawkes, have criticized the current system for creating an unfair competitive advantage for foreign companies. Theo Paphitis, the owner of Boux Avenue, Robert Dyas, and Ryman, warned that allowing overseas businesses to continue benefiting from this loophole would be catastrophic for UK industry. “If you’re not paying import duties, not paying VAT and not paying national insurance to employees here then you’ve got an unfair advantage over everybody else,” he said. “It is not a level playing field.” Julian Dunkerton, co-founder of Superdry, voiced his strong support for the UK government following Trump's approach. “Their trade with the UK should be treated as a single transaction and taxed accordingly,” he stated. The current UK policy, known as the de minimis rule, exempts shipments valued under £135 from customs duties, while packages exceeding this threshold can incur duties of up to 25 percent. In contrast, Trump has vowed to remove the same exemption in the U.S. for shipments valued under $800 from China, Canada, and Mexico. Retail industry leaders have been advocating for stricter regulations on low-value imports for years, arguing that overseas retailers use the exemption to flood the market with cheap products, undercutting domestic businesses. Touker Suleyman, owner of Gieves & Hawkes, Ghost, and Finery, expressed frustration over the UK government’s inaction. “The UK government has not been listening to retail and they haven’t got the guts to take a decision. With all due respect to President Trump, he’s got the guts to say, ‘this is how it’s going to be’.” Harold Tillman, former chairman of the British Fashion Council and former head of Jaeger and Aquascutum, agreed with the U.S. president’s stance. “I do agree with the American president,” he said, adding that such a move would create a fairer marketplace and potentially curb the excessive production of low-cost fashion items. The decision by Trump could have significant consequences for Shein, particularly as the company is considering a £50 billion listing on the London Stock Exchange. The U.S. remains Shein’s most profitable market, and any policy shift could impact its revenue streams. While a London float could bring substantial investment to the UK economy, Paphitis believes the government must weigh the benefits of this listing against the ongoing loss of tax revenue and the negative impact on British high streets. “The government needs to think about the value of the float to the British economy compared to the billions the Treasury is losing out [in unpaid tax] and the demise of our own high streets,” he argued. As pressure mounts, British retailers are calling for immediate action to ensure a fair and competitive market, preventing further damage to local businesses struggling to compete against tax-exempt overseas rivals. Based on a report by The Times 2025-02-07 -
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Labour’s Approach to Islamophobia and Migration Demands Belief in the Impossible
Angela Rayner’s plan to establish a “council on Islamophobia” to define anti-Muslim discrimination is being criticized as a de facto blasphemy law. This proposal, detractors argue, could criminalize individuals across all backgrounds—white, black, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, and atheist—who express concerns about a parallel society developing under Sharia law, with attitudes often in opposition to liberal democratic values. Objecting to special treatment for a segment of the population with minimal integration—where women and girls frequently face second-class status—is not a phobia, but a rational reaction to what many see as religious separatism and political favoritism. Instead of launching a national inquiry into the widespread grooming gang scandal, largely linked to individuals of Pakistani origin, Labour appears more focused on pushing legislation that could criminalize public discussion of the issue. This shift raises concerns about free speech and the ability of the majority white population to object to what some perceive as its own societal and cultural decline. The authoritarian nature of this approach is reminiscent of the Queen of Hearts in Lewis Carroll’s *Alice in Wonderland*: “Sentence first, verdict afterwards!” It is a sentiment that aligns with what critics describe as the chillingly authoritarian tendencies of Starmer’s Labour government. Among the many policy shifts since Labour came to power, perhaps the most surreal is its approach to tackling illegal migration. The government’s solution, according to its new Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, is to legalize those who would otherwise be classified as illegal migrants. This move dismantles large portions of the previous Conservative government’s Illegal Migration Act (2023), which had stipulated that those entering the country illegally would be permanently barred from obtaining British citizenship. By removing this deterrent, the government is accused of enabling human smuggling operations and eroding border security. The previous legislation also allowed authorities to treat asylum seekers as over 18 if they refused to undergo scientific age assessments. Now, foster carers are once again expected to believe the impossible—that the asylum seeker placed in their home is a “child,” despite having a full beard and wearing size 11 shoes. Smuggling gangs actively coach migrants to claim they are minors, as this significantly increases their chances of gaining refugee status. In just the first half of last year alone, 1,300 individuals attempted to pass as children. British youngsters in desperate need of foster care placements have been displaced by fraudulent claims, reinforcing concerns about the government's priorities. Further complicating matters, young males from violent, war-torn countries are placed in secondary schools alongside much younger female students, raising alarms about safety and security. However, Labour appears untroubled by these risks, insisting instead that its new approach will “reduce the number” of illegal migrants—while, in reality, maintaining the status quo. After just seven months of Labour governance, public frustration with these policies is growing. Many see them as a nonsensical charade, demanding belief in the impossible, at the expense of national security, cultural cohesion, and common sense. Based on a report by Daily telegraph 2025-02-07
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